SAN FRANCISCO – For 11 years, Kevon Looney wasn’t just a player for the Golden State Warriors; he was part of the very foundation of the franchise. On Saturday, he walked the familiar halls of Chase Center not as a cornerstone, but as a visitor. The jersey was different—the crisp white of the New Orleans Pelicans—but the love and memories that flooded back remained the same, painting a poignant picture of loyalty and change in the modern NBA.
THE WARRIORS’ WELCOME HOME THAT’S GOING VIRAL! Kevon Looney Returns to Bay Area Amid Emotional “Memories” Tribute
Looney’s return was a study in contrasts. The man who once knew every inch of the building now found himself momentarily lost. “I thought I knew the Chase Center like the back of my hand,” Looney admitted. “But I didn’t know where I was going, going to the other side.” That “other side”—the visitors’ locker room—symbolized his new reality.
But for the Warriors, Looney will always be family. Drafted 30th overall in 2015, he transformed from an injury-plagued prospect into an iron man, playing 289 consecutive games, and a rebounding machine central to two championship runs. Who can forget his 22 boards in the 2022 semifinal clincher against Memphis or his 18 rebounds to close out the Mavericks? His stats (5.0 points, 5.7 rebounds) never told the whole story.
His true value was woven into the fabric of the team. Coach Steve Kerr called his impact “way beyond the court stuff,” highlighting his locker room presence and the professional atmosphere he generated. In an era of constant roster turnover, Looney became a rare, stable force—a mentor and a “big brother.”
Brandin Podziemski echoed the sentiment of many young Warriors: “He was a big brother to me… I love that man and he’s done a lot for me on the basketball court, and mentally, away from it.” Even the big men who eventually took his playing time, like Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post, raved about his selfless guidance. “There is no ego involved with anything he does,” Post said. “It’s easy to follow a guy like that.”
The business of basketball, however, waits for no one. With the Warriors in stasis, Looney signed a two-year deal with the Pelicans. “No hard feelings,” he said. “Ten years, had a lot of great memories … it’s all love.” The irony is palpable; while he navigates being phased out of a new team’s rotation, his legacy as a Warrior only grows more profound.
As the Pelicans continue their season, Looney’s on-court role may be uncertain. But his place in history is not. He returned to Chase Center not for a tribute video, but with something more enduring: the universal respect of an organization and a fanbase that will forever claim him as their own. The anxiety and jitters he felt were not those of a visitor, but of a son coming home. Kevon Looney may wear a different uniform, but his heart, forever, beats with the soul of a Warrior.