Kevon Looney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kevon Looney

Looney in 2016
New Orleans Pelicans
Power forward
Personal information
Born	(1996-02-06) February 6, 1996 (age 29) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
High school	Alexander Hamilton (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	222 lb (101 kg)
Career information
College	UCLA (2014–2015)
NBA Draft	2015 / Round: 1 / Pick: 30th overall
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Pro career	2015–present
League	NBA
Career history
2015–2025	Golden State Warriors
2016–2017	→Santa Cruz Warriors
2025–present	New Orleans Pelicans
Career highlights and awards
3× NBA champion (2017, 2018, 2022) Second-team All-Pac-12 (2015) Pac-12 All-Freshman team (2015) McDonald's All-American (2014) First-team Parade All-American (2014) Wisconsin Mr. Basketball (2014)

Kevon Grant Looney (born February 6, 1996) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the New Orleans Pelicans in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, Looney played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He was recognized as one of the best freshmen in his conference in 2015.

After just one year in college, Looney entered the 2015 NBA draft. The Golden State Warriors picked him in the first round. He played for the Warriors for ten years and helped them win three NBA championships. Looney was known for his strong rebounding and defense. In 2025, he joined the New Orleans Pelicans.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Kevon Looney was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father, Doug, coached him and played basketball in college. Kevon also watched his older brother, Kevin, play. He became a big fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant. He even studied tapes of Bryant to learn his moves.

Looney was the best player at Alexander Hamilton High in Milwaukee. Colleges started trying to recruit him when he was only a freshman. In his second year, he was named Player of the Year in his conference. He averaged 20.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

As a junior, Looney's stats were even better. He averaged 26.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 7.0 blocks per game. In his final high school season, he averaged almost a quadruple-double. This means he had high numbers in four different stats: points, rebounds, assists, and blocks. Even though he was the tallest player, he often played point guard because he was great at handling the ball and passing.

Looney in the 2014 McDonald's All-American Game

Hamilton High won its first league title in four years during Looney's senior year. He was named a McDonald's All-American, which is a big honor for high school players. He was also named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball. Experts ranked him as one of the top high school players in the country. In 2018, Hamilton High retired Looney's jersey number 5.

College Career at UCLA

In 2013, Looney decided to play college basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He loved California and thought UCLA had a beautiful campus. The coaches told him he could play both inside and outside, showing off his many skills.

Before his freshman season, Looney hurt his hip during a practice. He rested for a few weeks but the injury affected his movement. Even with the injury, Looney was one of the best freshmen in the country. In his first game, he scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds. He became the first UCLA freshman to have at least four double-doubles (scoring double figures in both points and rebounds) in his first five games.

Looney as a UCLA freshman on defense against USC

Looney was a natural rebounder. His shooting also got better as the season went on. He helped UCLA reach the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. For the season, Looney averaged 11.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He had 15 double-doubles, which was the most among all freshmen in the nation. He was named to the All-Pac-12 team and the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.

Professional Career

Golden State Warriors (2015–2025)

Early Years and First Championship (2015–2017)

After one year at UCLA, Looney decided to enter the 2015 NBA draft. Some teams were worried about his hip injury. The Golden State Warriors picked him with the 30th overall pick. The Warriors had just won the NBA championship. They were not worried about his recovery time because of his young age and potential.

In August 2015, Looney had surgery on his right hip. He was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State's minor league team, in January 2016. He played well there, averaging 8.0 points and 10.0 rebounds. Looney made his NBA debut on January 27, 2016, scoring two points and grabbing two rebounds.

Looney (left) on assignment with Santa Cruz in 2016

In March 2016, Looney had more hip problems. In April, he had surgery on his left hip. He missed most of his rookie year. The Warriors reached the NBA Finals but lost.

Looney continued to recover from his surgeries. He lost 30 pounds before the 2017–18 season. He became a regular player in the Warriors' rotation. He was able to play longer without getting tired. The Warriors won their second championship in three years in 2017, but Looney was inactive for all 17 playoff games due to his left hip.

Becoming a Key Center and Second Championship (2017–2018)

In the 2017–18 season, Looney became a healthy and important player. He was one of six centers on the team. Coach Steve Kerr praised Looney's defense and his ability to guard different players. He was called their "best switching center." This means he could guard players of different sizes and positions.

Looney played well in the 2018 playoffs. He guarded star players like LaMarcus Aldridge and Anthony Davis. He became the team's most reliable center. The Warriors won the Western Conference Finals and advanced to the Finals. They swept the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–0, winning their second straight championship. Looney played the sixth-most minutes on the team in the playoffs.

Chasing a Third Straight Title (2018–2019)

Looney re-signed with the Warriors for the 2018–19 season. He started many games after another center, Damian Jones, got injured. On December 3, 2018, Looney scored 14 points and had five assists. He scored a career-high 15 points on January 28, 2019.

Looney scoring on a dunk against the Washington Wizards in 2019

Looney had his best regular season, averaging 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. In the 2019 playoffs, he scored a career-high 19 points in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He was called an "unsung hero" by Coach Kerr. Looney helped the Warriors reach the NBA Finals again. He suffered a chest injury in Game 2 but returned to play. The Warriors lost the Finals in six games.

Injuries and Third Championship (2019–2025)

In the summer of 2019, Looney signed a new three-year contract with the Warriors. He started having pain in his hamstrings. Doctors found he had neuropathy, a nerve problem. This condition caused numbness in his hands, wrists, and feet. Looney had played through it before, but it became too much. He played only 20 games in the 2019–20 season. In May 2020, he had surgery to fix a core muscle injury.

Looney started the 2020–21 season as a backup. But he became the main center after the team's rookie center got injured. On April 19, 2021, Looney grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds.

In the 2021–22 season, Looney was the Warriors' starting center. He played in all 82 regular season games, which was a career high. He averaged 7.3 rebounds per game. In the playoffs, Looney had a career-high 22 rebounds in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He also scored a career-high 21 points in a game against the Dallas Mavericks. Looney was a key player in the Warriors' run to their third championship in 2022. They defeated the Boston Celtics in six games in the 2022 NBA Finals.

On July 10, 2022, Looney signed another contract with the Warriors. On January 2, 2023, he made a game-winning shot at the buzzer. He finished that game with a career-high 20 rebounds. He played all 82 games again in the 2022–23 season. He averaged career highs in points (7.0) and rebounds (9.3). In the 2023 playoffs, Looney averaged 15.1 rebounds per game in the first round. He had three games with 20 or more rebounds in that series.

On March 7, 2024, Looney's streak of 290 straight games played ended. He had not missed a game since March 2021.

New Orleans Pelicans (2025–present)

On July 7, 2025, Looney signed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. He felt that his playing time with the Warriors had been limited. He wanted to be used in ways that fit his strengths. Looney said he felt like the Warriors did not trust him in important moments.

Player Profile

Kevon Looney is 6 feet 9 inches tall. He is good at playing power forward and also as a small-ball center. He has a long wingspan, which helps him guard all five positions on the court. Looney can switch between guarding different players, even faster guards. He is also good at defending near the basket.

After his hip surgeries, Looney worked hard to improve his movement and athleticism. He also practiced catching lob passes and finishing shots. He uses special training facilities that give him feedback on his shooting technique.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular Season

Playoffs

College

Personal Life

Kevon Looney has an older brother named Kevin and an older sister named Summer. His cousin, Nick Young, also played in the NBA. They were teammates on the Warriors during the 2017–18 season.

See also

In Spanish: Kevon Looney para niños