With his relentless pursuit for rebounds on both ends of the floor, Kevon Looney has been a catalyst in the Warriors' three-game winning streak to take a 3-2 series lead in their Western Conference Quarterfinals battle with the third-seeded Sacramento Kings.
Kevon Looney has been the top rebounder in these playoffs, leading in total rebounds (72) and rebounds per game (14.4). Looney already has two games in these playoffs with at least 20 rebounds, more than any other player, grabbing 20 boards in Game 3 and a playoff-best 22 rebounds in Game 5.
Postgame Warriors Talk: Kevon Looney After His 22-Rebound Performance – 4/26/23
In Game 3, the Warriors were facing an 0-2 deficit and missing two of their best rebounders, Draymond Green (league suspension) and Gary Payton II (illness). As Draymond Green mentioned on his podcast "The Draymond Green Show," Green challenged Looney before the game to grab 20 rebounds.
Looney successfully completed that challenge, with nine of those 20 rebounds coming on the offensive glass. Looney also led the Warriors in assists (9) as his teammates shot a perfect 9-for-9 on his passes. Again, many of those assists came from offensive rebounds, as Looney shared how his approach to passing after a rebound changed after spending some time with the Splash Brothers, saying:
“When you first came to the league, usually when you get an offensive rebound, you are taught to just go back up and try to get your own points. But I remember Ron Adams kept yelling at me to kick it out, we have Steph Curry and Klay on our team, pass it to them. And it’s been working for me and gives them a lot of opportunities to give them open shots.”
Looney's Putback
Looney led the league in offensive rebounds during the regular season (274) and the Warriors scored a league-best 349 points off the second-chance opportunities he created.
In a pivotal Game 5, with the series knotted 2-2, Looney tied a career-high with 22 rebounds, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond as the only Warriors to record multiple 20-rebound games in the same playoff series. As a result, he moved to 10th on the Warriors' all-time playoff rebounds list.
“It’s special,” Stephen Curry said on Looney etching his name into Warriors’ history. “Those two names are in the rafters and for him to join any list with those two guys on there, it speaks to just how special of a player he is and what he’s become.”
Looney also joined Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Garnett, Nikola Jokic and Patrick Ewing as the only players to have at least 22 rebounds and seven assists in a playoff game over the last 30 years.
Steve Kerr raved about Looney's impact in Game 5, saying, “He just does all the stuff that coaches love. He sets screens and rebounds. He gets a rebound and he’s constantly looking to throw the ball back out to the open 3-point shooter. He never turns the ball over.”
Before Game 5, Domantas Sabonis was acknowledged by the Sacramento crowd for leading the league in rebounds during the regular season. However, in the playoffs, Kevon Looney has out-rebounded Sabonis 72-58, and the Dubs’ three wins this series coincide with the three games where Looney has out-rebounded Sabonis.
“For this series, I really want to try to set the tone and try to get every rebound, be greedy in that way. It helps our team.” Looney said.
Looney has controlled the boards all season and it has been instrumental in the Warriors' success. The Warriors were 23-12 when Looney reached double-digit rebounds during the regular season and they're 3-0 so far in the postseason.