Kevon Looney, the Golden State Warriors’ former ironman, has inadvertently thrown the New Orleans Pelicans into chaos early in the NBA season. Known for his remarkable durability during his Warriors tenure, Looney’s early injury with his new team has forced the Pelicans into a frantic free agency move just days into the regular season, highlighting the void left by the veteran center’s absence.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Pelicans signed 37-year-old center Deandre Jordan to a one-year deal on Friday, waiving guard Jaden Springer to bolster their depleted big man rotation. Jordan, a seasoned veteran who has served as a backup for the Denver Nuggets over the past three seasons, brings experience and locker room presence. However, from a playing perspective, this signing reeks of desperation, as Jordan’s on-court impact has significantly diminished in recent years.
The Pelicans’ hand was forced by a string of injuries at the center position, starting with Looney, who suffered a knee sprain in the team’s first preseason game against Melbourne United. Looney has yet to make his Pelicans debut and will miss Monday’s home game against the Boston Celtics. Adding to New Orleans’ woes, young big men Yves Missi (ankle) and Karlo Matkovic (back) are also listed as questionable for the matchup, leaving the team scrambling to stabilize its frontcourt.
Looney’s durability was a hallmark of his time with the Warriors, where he played an astonishing 289 consecutive regular season and playoff games—a streak only broken when coach Steve Kerr adjusted his rotation. Despite his offensive limitations, Looney’s reliability made him a cornerstone for Golden State, rarely forcing the front office to seek mid-season reinforcements. However, the Warriors’ decision to prioritize Al Horford in free agency led to Looney signing a two-year, $16 million deal with the Pelicans.
Ironically, the Warriors may now face a similar dilemma. While Horford is an upgrade over Looney, his minutes are carefully managed at around 20 per game, with rest on one night of back-to-backs. With Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis providing limited impact so far, Golden State could soon find themselves in the market for another center, mirroring the Pelicans’ desperate move to sign Jordan.
Looney’s absence has exposed the Pelicans’ lack of depth, and his injury has indirectly put pressure on both his former and current teams. As New Orleans scrambles to fill the void and Golden State grapples with its own frontcourt limitations, Looney’s durability—or lack thereof in this case—continues to ripple across the league, proving his understated value as the Warriors’ former secret weapon.