Warriors veteran shares reason behind his decision to leave.
Steve Kerr’s Treatment Reportedly Drove Former Warriors Veteran to Exit originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After spending 10 years with the same team, most players figure they’ve earned a bit of security. They know their role, their value and where they stand in the pecking order. But for Kevon Looney, that sense of stability with the Golden State Warriors never really materialized.
Despite putting in years of sweat and sacrifice in Golden State, Looney apparently felt the way head coach Steve Kerr handled things with him crossed a line. In the end, that was enough for him to pack his bags, leave behind the only NBA home he ever knew and start fresh with the Pelicans in New Orleans.
In a recent interview on the "Warriors Plus Minus" podcast, Looney gave his side of the story regarding his exit. He said, “It was anybody but me it seemed like at this point. It was not one moment. They were not giving me the chance to let me do what I do. It was like all right, y’all don’t trust me. You put me in at the end of Game 7. … Y’all really don’t think I am that good no more.”
Looney added how frustrating it was getting benched by Kerr, especially during this year’s playoffs.
He gets that sort of thing when you’re a rookie or still finding your place in the league. He’s been there, done that. But to be sitting on the bench after a whole decade with the team? That just didn’t sit right with him.
For Looney, that was the final straw. The decision to leave also meant Looney got paid, signing a two-year, $16 million contract with the Pelicans, including $8 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $8 million.
Related: Brandin Podziemski Issues Clear Thoughts on Warriors’ Future
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
