One defining trait of the overhauled Los Angeles Lakers roster is just how young the team has become. Last season, the Lakers had LeBron James as the oldest player at 41 years old, but also had two other 30-plus players and five that were 29 or older. This season, Kevon Looney is the team’s oldest player at 30, and only three total players — he, Matisse Thybulle and Austin Reaves — are 28 or older.
Looney then becomes the team’s true veteran leader, as both the only 30-year-old and as the only player who has won an NBA championship before. Of course, Looney won three titles as a member of the Golden State Warriors from 2016 to 2025. He spoke about how he wants to utilize his age and experience to help the Lakers.
“Just kind of show them the way, some of things that I learned from the veterans that I played with,” Looney said via the Lakers YouTube channel. “Some of the championship tendencies and knowledge that they’ve given me. Hopefully, we can start the journey to winning one together. Also, just learning from them. The NBA is always evolving, players are always changing, there’s always new stuff coming to the league and I want to learn from them as well.”
Championship experience is surely part of the reason why the Lakers gave a one-year minimum contract to Looney as the backup center, letting both Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes go in the process. It’s unclear exactly how much on-court impact Looney has left in him, but they are hoping that playing for a contending team will bring back some of the impact he had in Golden State.
It also shows how good of a teammate Looney is that he made sure to talk about learning from the young players as well. It’s not uncommon for older players to assume their way is the correct way and to only be focused on teaching instead of learning. But Looney wants to be able to adapt his game to remain a net-positive player, and listening to the younger players might be how he achieves that.
Matisse Thybulle chose new number with Lakers for fresh start
The Lakers’ other oldest player — Thybulle — is hoping that he can provide a three-and-D presence for a team that desperately needs it. He should be able to do so as long as he can stay healthy.
Thybulle spoke about choosing jersey No. 26 for the Lakers, saying that it’s a fresh start with a brand new number for him.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
