It is without question that the Golden State Warriors will be entering the new campaign as a considerably weaker side than they have ever been in the past half decade. The summer exit of Kevin Durant and the long-term injury to Klay Thompson all but guarantees that the Dubs will find life difficult in an even more ruthless Western Conference.

There is a lot of hype surrounding team superstar Stephen Curry and what many expect from him as the unchallenged number one option on offense for the Warriors this term. Many are even saying that we can expect the six-time All-Star to go on an another historic MVP-worthy campaign without a bona fide superstar by his side. The arrival of D'Angelo Russell is also a very interesting prospect for Golden State, and much is also expected of the second overall pick as well.

However, one man who might have a bigger impact on the side than what most would expect is 6-foot-9 big man Kevon Looney. As a matter of fact, the 23-year-old might just be the x-factor the Warriors need in order to remain as a serious contender for the title this season.

Looney has slowly been working his way up the ranks for the Dubs ever since he was drafted by the team in 2015 as the 30th overall pick. After averaging just 4.2 minutes per contest in his rookie year, the former UCLA standout has now successfully established himself as an important piece for head coach Steve Kerr. Last season, Looney put up career-high numbers, averaging 6.3 points (on 62.5 percent shooting), 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 18.5 minutes per ballgame. He also stepped up his game in the wake of DeMarcus Cousins' injury during the playoffs, as he emerged as a pivotal part of the team's rotation throughout the postseason.

Looney will now look to continue building on an impressive 2018-19 season, and with the Warriors entering the new campaign with a revamped lineup, he has been presented with a tremendous opportunity to become one of Golden State's most important players moving forward.

The potential is definitely there for Looney, who proved to be an effective two-way weapon for the Dubs last season. His energy and athleticism should allow him to be a legitimate offensive threat for the team down low. Looney also has a knack of cleaning up the boards, so he should be in store for a fair amount of tip-ins throughout the season. Looney should also emerge as the second unit's defensive anchor, serving as a highly-effective rim protector.

Let's not forget that Looney played through a serious chest injury in the Finals last season, which at one point, even required him to wear a flak jacket just to protect his fractured rib cage. No one can question his grit and willpower, and the type of mentality he brings to the table is another asset the Warriors have in their favor.

While Looney will likely put up better numbers than he did last season, he is not exactly expected to stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis. Then again, what's great about Looney is that his contributions for the team go way beyond the box score — one of the most important aspects of a true x-factor.