Kevon Looney believes his move to the Los Angeles Lakers offers both a basketball fit and a personal one, according to ESPN insider Dave McMenamin. As the Lakers continue reshaping their roster around Luka Doncic, the veteran center reportedly views his role as an extension of the work that helped him win multiple NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors.
Speaking on NBA Today, McMenamin shared details from a conversation with someone close to Looney about why the veteran big man embraced the opportunity in Los Angeles.
“I spoke to someone close to him today who said that he saw it as a clear opportunity,” McMenamin said. “He saw a parallel between some of the half-court sets that they’re going to run. The way he can free up Luka and AR the same way he freed up Klay and Steph with screens.”
That comparison reflects Looney’s value beyond the box score. During his decade with Golden State, the three-time NBA champion became one of the league’s most reliable screen setters and interior facilitators, helping create space for Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in one of the NBA’s most effective offenses.
The Lakers are hoping he can provide a similar impact for Doncic and Austin Reaves. Los Angeles finished 53-29 during the 2025-26 regular season, good for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, but was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals. The offseason has since focused on adding size, rebounding and veteran experience around its new franchise centerpiece.
Looney is part of that overhaul. The Lakers have also acquired Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton, while continuing to pursue free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga. According to reports, Kuminga remains one of the organization’s top remaining targets, although financial limitations could require a sign-and-trade if Los Angeles decides to increase its offer.
McMenamin also noted that Looney’s decision wasn’t based solely on basketball considerations.
The veteran center has longstanding ties to Southern California after playing at UCLA before entering the NBA. He also spends much of his offseason in Los Angeles, making the transition a natural one away from the court.
“He’s a UCLA guy. He spends his off seasons in LA,” McMenamin said. “He’s getting married this weekend to his bride who was also a hooper at Cal State Northridge.”
