The Los Angeles Lakers have overhauled their entire roster this offseason, but especially at the center position, bringing in Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney to replace Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes.
Looney is looking to get his career back on track after not playing much last season for the New Orleans Pelicans, and he believes playing with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will help do that, via Mark Medina of Fadeaway World:
“It’s a big-time opportunity. It’s big time to play for another historic franchise. Lakers fans are amazing. I’ve been playing against them my whole career. I see how much they travel. They love their team, and they want their team to win. I’m super excited to be a part of that. Playing with great players is great. I’ll be able to play with Luka and Reaves, and everybody else. I’m super excited.”
Looney talked about how Doncic and Reaves can make life easier for him, and also how he can help them out with his defense, screens and rebounding:
“They have so much gravity. Luka is one of the best passers in the league. He can create so many opportunities for me as a pick-and-roll player. Being able to play at a high stage and play winning basketball again is amazing. Playing with Luka, it’s going to be super cool to see him do his thing. For me, I can bring some toughness to the team, physicality and offensive rebounding. As a screener, I can get guys like Luka and Austin open. I’m looking forward to that. I know if I can get those guys open, they can also get me a lot of layups and dunks (laughs). I’m super excited about all of that. I’m trying to watch more film and more of the games so I know how to implement myself.”
Looney has a lot of experience as a screener going back to his time with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. He believes that will benefit him now playing with Doncic and Reaves:
“For Austin, I can set the screens on the ball and off the ball for him. On the pick-and-roll, I can get the angles for them. They’re both scoring guards. So I can hold my screens. That should relieve them some pressure so they can get a clean look. That’s something that I specialize at. So I’m super excited to do it for those guys. Luka is a pick-and-roll master. He’s probably the best in the league at it with finding angles and manipulating the defense. I want to pick his mind and learn from him and how he wants his screens set. With talking with those guys, I’m excited about that part, too. Every time I go to a new team or play with a new guard, I ask them how he likes to play. That’s always the fun part.”
It remains to be seen what role Looney will play for the Lakers this season, but at the very least, his experience and leadership should be welcomed in a locker room that is now filled with young players.
Kevon Looney couldn’t turn down opportunity with Lakers
When discussing why he decided to sign with the Lakers in free agency, Looney talked about how it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Looney has ties to the Los Angeles area after playing his college ball at UCLA, and now he gets to continue his career in purple and gold.
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