The Golden State Warriors may not be as dominant as they were when they won four championships, but they're still hanging around.
The Warriors, who defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 137-116, currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference with a record of 36-32 and the last spot to qualify for the play-in tournament. They are four games behind the sixth-seeded Sacramento Kings, so they will likely have to win a play-in game to advance to the playoffs.
That said, they are always a threat considering they still have the core of their championship win in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr. Their overall record may not be great, but they are 18-11 (62%) since Draymond Green returned from his 12-game suspension. Over the course of the season, the Warriors currently sit fifth in the Western Conference.
And while he may not be thought of much by mainstream fans, Kevon Looney has been around for most of his career.
Looney, 28, who played in Golden State's three championships and joined in 2015 shortly after the dynasty began, explains why the enigmatic Green is a game-changer for a Warriors team that has often been dominated. explained. He made headlines with his 3-point shot that caught the attention of the Splash Brothers.
“I definitely missed Draymond,” Looney admitted in a one-on-one interview. “He's a defensive guru. He's a great passer. He's one of our leaders. He plays with a lot of energy and it gives our team energy when he's not around. It was tough. And since he's come back, I think we've turned a corner, but he's been great in the locker room. ”
Green was originally suspended indefinitely by the NBA for punching Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the head in December. However, that suspension didn't last very long, as Green returned after 12 games in January. Immediately prior to his return, the Warriors were just 18-21 (.462) and 10-11 in December and January when Green was absent.
Looney said he and the Warriors disagreed with the suspension given to Green.
“He's become an even better leader,” Rooney says of Green. “We all disagreed about the suspension. He was great when he came back. He was great before he left and was suspended. So it wasn't like he needed a drastic change. “He's back, but he's still our leader. He's going to be important. We've got to have him on our side.''
Mr. Rooney spoke on behalf of his partnership with Invisalign, a brand known for its clear dental aligners and a sponsor of the NFL, and detailed the reasons behind the partnership. Rooney started treatment in September, which he says was easy.
“I always like to smile,” Rooney says. “But everyone has some insecurities about their teeth and their smile. I'm always on TV and I'm always out in public taking pictures. I'm always worried about my smile being perfect. I just wanted to make sure I still had my signature gap.'' And thanks to Invisalign, that's possible. ”
Rooney also revealed how his confidence has increased when it comes to smiling.
“I'm feeling really good, I'm smiling better, probably smiling more and feeling more confident,” Rooney said.
The Warriors aren't used to winning play-in tournament games to make the playoffs, having done it once in 2021 when they lost to the Lakers, but they showed new life defensively. ing. The Warriors have a defensive rating of 113.9 in games played with Green, which would rank 13th in the NBA, but without Green they have an abysmal 122.0 defensive rating, which would be the lowest in the league. are recorded.
“Over the last 15 games, we've continued to establish our identity, we're a great defensive team, we want to get out in transition, we want to play fast and free,” Rooney said. “It's hard to win when you're doing that. We've got to get as high a seed as possible so we can make the playoffs.”
Looney admits the Warriors are vulnerable this season, but is optimistic that they can beat any team in the league once they reach their ceiling. It is noteworthy that only two years have passed since the last championship victory.
“We know we're not the best team at the moment,” Rooney said. “We've been very winning so far, but we know that if we hit the ceiling, we can beat anyone in this league.”
They have a new lease of life not only with Green's return to the court, but also with a new starting lineup that includes Jonathan Kuminga and Brandon Podzemski. In fact, the move resulted in Thompson coming off the bench and Rooney being relegated to a backup role.
Looney, who has been the team's starting big man since the end of the 2020-21 season and served in that role until the end of January, spoke unselfishly about accepting reduced playing time.
“The important thing here is winning,” Rooney said. “Whatever helps us win. Whatever Coach Kerr feels will help our team, I'm willing to work on it. I'm going to embrace that and just be the best at my role.” I'm going to try. And if I get rotated again.” “And he needs me to go out there and play a lot of minutes. I'm ready for that. It's not going to be easy. But I still accept my role and try to be the best in it.”
That selfless personality helped Looney enjoy a long career with one team, averaging just 5.0 points per game and making 10 career 3-pointers. The final year of the three-year, $22.5 million contract that Looney signed in 2022 is only partially guaranteed with $3 million next season, but if the Warriors win the title or the new league in late June. He will become fully guaranteed just before the start of the year — which could mean he is in the midst of his final season with the Warriors.
While he may not have complete control over his future, Looney, who played in 512 games, 19th in franchise history, hopes to finish his career with Golden State. Udonis Haslem, a role player similar to Looney known for his defensive ability, played a total of 20 seasons with the Miami Heat before retiring last year.
“Without a doubt, it's terrible,” Rooney says. “I don't know how long I can play with one team. I've been here nine years. But it's out of my control and I have to prepare myself for whatever happens.”
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