Golden State Warriors veteran big man Kevon Looney has exercised his $5.1 million player option to return to the Bay Area for the 2021-22 season.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Looney has chosen to opt-in for next season, which will be his seventh with the Warriors.

Looney has had a fascinating tenure with the Warriors.

The 25-year-old was the final pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA draft. He played just five games in his rookie season, but gradually became a bigger part of Steve Kerr's rotation over the years.

Looney played in 66 games for the Warriors during the 2017-18 season as the Dubs rolled to a second consecutive championship. He played in 80 contests the following season, seeing another minutes increase and even starting in 24 games. The former UCLA product garnered a reputation as a rim-runner who could hound the offensive glass and provide some rim protection on the interior.

The 2019-20 season provided some challenges for Looney. He missed time with a neuropathic condition and also dealt with a hamstring injury throughout the course of the campaign.

However, Looney was again a key member of the rotation this past season. He started in 34 of 61 appearances, averaging 4.1 points and 5.3 rebounds while also amassing 2.0 assists per contest. He's hardly the most prolific asset for Golden State, but still gives the Warriors a capable big who can fill the lane and act as a baseline cutter who hunts lobs and second chances around the rim.

Most of Golden State's offseason is likely to center around its draft plans and James Wiseman's future with the franchise. Looney's decision could be especially impactful in the event the Warriors attempt to include Wiseman in a package for a star.