Kevon Looney is already setting the tone for what the Lakers are getting from him, and the message is pretty straightforward: energy, hustle, rebounds, and the kind of championship know-how that comes from being around winning for a long time.
The three-time NBA champion recently spoke with the Lakers’ social media team and looked ahead to the 2026-27 season. He opened by talking about his earliest memories of basketball, which centered on Kobe Bryant, then shifted into what he believes he can add to the roster as an 11-year NBA veteran.
“Some of the things that I learned with the veterans that I played with. Some of the championship tendencies and knowledge that they’ve given me. Hopefully, we can start this journey of winning one together,” Looney said.
He also made it clear he’s not walking into this situation thinking he has nothing to learn.
“Also, just learning from them, the NBA is always evolving, players are always changing, and there’s always new stuff coming to the league, and I wanna learn from them as well.”
One of the biggest things Looney is looking forward to is sharing the floor with Luka Doncic. He’s battled against the Slovenian star for years, and now he gets to be on the same side.
“I’m excited to play alongside Luka (Doncic); he’s one of the best players in the league. Got to compete with him all these years, and he’s always a problem to play against, so I’m glad to be on his side this time.”
Looney closed by laying out exactly what Lakers fans should expect from him.
“Lakers’ fans can expect a lot of energy, a lot of hustle and a lot of rebounds. That’s something that I’ve been kind of known for, and I want to bring that experience to the Lakers,” Looney concluded.
There are some clear basketball reasons the Lakers are interested in what he can offer. In 21 games with the Pelicans in 2025-26, Looney averaged 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 points, and 1.6 assists while shooting 41.7% from the field. For a big man who operates almost entirely inside the paint, that shooting mark is a concern.
That season also turned into a difficult one physically. Looney dealt with injuries and eventually dropped out of the Pelicans’ rotation as the team leaned toward younger players such as Yves Missi and Derik Queen.
His path in Los Angeles looks different. The Lakers give him a better shot to compete for minutes as the backup center behind Walker Kessler, which means he could have a real role on the court instead of serving mainly as a locker room voice.
At 6’9″ with a 7’4″ wingspan, Looney also brings a useful target for Luka Doncic in pick-and-roll action when Kessler sits. That combination gives the Lakers another piece to evaluate closely as the 2026-27 season approaches.
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