Kevon Looney’s return to Chase Center was filled with emotion, reflection and a chance to clear up misunderstandings.
The three-time champion, now a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, addressed comments he made earlier this offseason about the Warriors “forgetting” about him, comments that sparked confusion among fans after a decade of loyalty and winning in Golden State.
“It’s not hard,” Rooney told Bay Area reporters before Saturday’s game, explaining his season-ending benching. “Steve is the guy who changes the lineup and you have to wait for your chance, and he does that to anybody on the team. He just wants to win. He puts out the best lineup just to win the game. So, it’s really frustrating. I kind of know where he’s coming from, I know what he’s trying to do.”
Looney admitted it pained him to step aside in the playoffs, especially in a game he has historically excelled at.
“As a player you look at the game and you just want to see something bad, leave an impact,” he said. “More along the lines, but no hard feelings. You know, I’ve got a lot of good memories over the course of the decade. More good memories than bad. There were times when I probably didn’t deserve the opportunity and the coaching staff put me in there, so it all evened out.”
Those frustrations first surfaced on The Athletic’s “Warriors Plus/Minus” podcast with Marcus Thompson II, when Looney recalled feeling overlooked.
“I guess,” Looney said when asked if last season’s rotation options were the final straw. “I wouldn’t say it, but at this point it’s anyone but me. It’s not a moment. Even this year, probably the playoffs. We’re going against Steven Adams. That’s what I do. They don’t really give me a chance to really let me do what I do. It’s like, ‘Well, y’all don’t believe in me? I thought y’all believed in me.’ They put me in the bottom of Game 7, and it’s like why are we waiting for that moment?”
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