Kevon Looney revealed his frustration over his reduced role with the Golden State Warriors during the 2025 playoffs, questioning the team’s trust in him during key moments.
On the Warriors Plus/Minus podcast with Marcus Thompson II, Looney said the decision to sit him in favor of then-rookie Quinten Post in the postseason left him confused.
“It was anybody but me it seemed like at this point,” Looney said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’re going up against Steven Adams. This is what I do. They’re not really giving me the chance to really let me do what I do. It’s like, ‘All right, y’all don’t trust me? I thought y’all trusted me.’”
Looney, who signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans on July 7, explained that the frustration wasn’t tied to just one moment. He pointed to the entire postseason, where he saw just 10 minutes per game despite his reputation as a reliable rebounder and defender in past playoff runs.
In the 2025 postseason, he averaged 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 points per game, a significant drop from his 13.1 rebounds per game during the 2023 playoffs. His minutes dwindled even in matchups against physical opponents like Adams, where his skill set had previously shined.
While Looney admitted he felt overlooked, he was quick to clarify he never took it personally with head coach Steve Kerr. “I just know it’s never personal with Steve,” he said. “He just wants to win. You can’t be mad because the results showed that. You talk about sacrifice and win, he’s going to really test that sacrifice part.”
Looney, who spent his entire 10-year career with Golden State before joining the Pelicans, appeared in 599 regular season games and won three NBA championships with the Warriors.
His move to New Orleans marks a fresh start after a decade of contributing to Golden State’s success, often in the background but with a steady presence on both ends of the floor.
