The three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney recently sat down with the Lakers’ social media team and answered some questions ahead of the coming 2026-27 season. He began by saying his earliest memories of watching basketball revolved around Kobe Bryant.
He then detailed his expectations for himself and what he brings to the Lakers’ table with his veteran experience in the league. Looney dove into what key lessons he planned to teach the young players on the team as an 11-year NBA veteran.
“Some of the things that I learned with the veterans that I played with. Some of the championship tendencies and knowledge that they’ve given me. Hopefully, we can start this journey of winning one together,” Looney said.
“Also, just learning from them, the NBA is always evolving, players are always changing, and there’s always new stuff coming to the league, and I wanna learn from them as well.”Â
Furthermore, Looney also said he was fired up to play alongside Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic.
“I’m excited to play alongside Luka (Doncic); he’s one of the best players in the league. Got to compete with him all these years, and he’s always a problem to play against, so I’m glad to be on his side this time.”
“Lakers’ fans can expect a lot of energy, a lot of hustle and a lot of rebounds. That’s something that I’ve been kind of known for, and I want to bring that experience to the Lakers,” Looney concluded.
In the 21 games he played for the Pelicans in 2025-26, he averaged 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 points, and 1.6 assists while shooting 41.7% from the field. As a big man who only plays inside the paint, those shooting efficiency numbers are a bit concerning.
But the 30-year-old NBA veteran is coming off an injury-riddled season that eventually saw him fall out of the Pelicans’ rotation, who prioritized younger talent like Yves Missi and Derik Queen over him.
Whereas on the Lakers, he has a better chance of battling for minutes as the backup center behind Walker Kessler. Therefore, he will have a better chance to also display his skills on the court instead of just being a solid locker room presence.
The 6’9″ forward/center has a 7’4″ wingspan, which also makes him a solid lob threat to play alongside Luka Doncic when Kessler is benched. Therefore, it will certainly be very interesting to see what Kevon Looney brings to the Lakers’ table in the 2026-27 season.
