Golden State Warriors big man Kevon Looney has played in just 10 games this season. However, they'll have him back on Saturday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 23-year-old missed all of training camp and was diagnosed with a neuropathic condition that forced him to miss over a month. Most recently, Looney has missed the last 18 games with abdominal soreness.
With his return set for Saturday night, his teammates could not be happier:
Kevon Looney’s had a nightmare season from a health perspective. When Kerr told the team he was returning tonight: “Everyone just broke out in applause. That doesn’t happen often. Everyone has so much respect for him.”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 1, 2020
Looney's bad luck really dates back to the 2019 NBA Finals. He suffered a rib fracture and aggravated said injury later in the series. He then suffered a strained right hamstring during training camp and was forced out after the regular season opener. Which as a result, led to the neuropathic diagnosis.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said it would be “huge” if Looney can stay healthy and build on the progress he made last season. Via Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle:
“I think it’s really important,” Golden State head coach Steve Kerr said after shootaround Thursday at TD Garden. “This has been a tough season for Loon. He’s been such a key player for us the last couple of years and, obviously, when we signed him last summer, we looked at him as a long-term piece, probably our starting center.
“It’s just been a really tough year for him. So, he’s worked like crazy to get back, and we’re hoping he’s back at some point on this trip. He’s still a really young guy. … It would be huge for him and for us if he can get back and re-establish his position on the team.”
As Kerr alluded to, the Warriors envisioned Looney as a frontcourt anchor when they signed him to a three-year, $14 million deal this summer.
Looney will not help the Warriors–who have the worst record in the NBA–turn their season around. But he can show why his value might be of immense importance next year.
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