SAN FRANCISCO — Unlike his first trip to free agency, which was met with considerable apprehension, Kevon Looney headed into the open market over the summer with a smile on his face. A clear mind, a healthy body, a destination to decide.
his heart knew what it wanted: Warrior forever.
“This is the team I was drafted into,” Rooney told NBC Sports Bay Area last month for the latest episode of “Dubtalk.” I love living here I know the system I know the players I know the guys It’s home to me This is where I wanted to be
“I’ve had many good vets over the years and they always told me to stay here as long as possible. All of that was on the back of my head going to free agency.”
After his most impressive regular season, A playoff run with spectacular momentsThe 6.9-foot center, who was the 28th overall pick in the 2015 draft, cheated in the summer of 2019.
There were legitimate concerns about his health. Rooney missed 124 of his 328 games in his first four seasons. He was a backup mogul who had endured each hip surgery. Additionally, he was not much of a scorer and his athleticism in his youth was declining.
“There were times when I didn’t even know if I would get a job,” he recalls.
“Going into this year, it was a different story. I knew there were plenty of opportunities.”
Rooney’s agent, Todd Ramasar, has spoken with at least one other team, the Chicago Bulls, but the Warriors have made it clear that Rooney is their top priority among free agents wanting to re-sign.
The decision is easy when the money is nearby.
Looney’s previous contract was for three years and included a player option worth $14.4 million in the third year. This time around, the Warriors made his three-year final offer worth $22.5 million, with an additional $1 million in annual incentives paid each season. The third year is only partially guaranteed.
When this was communicated to Rooney, all he needed was a pen.
“As long as I’m here, not many players can play on the same team,” he said. “Here’s my family. I’ve been building something. Also, I knew it would take a lot of people to leave this team.
“I am starting to build my legacy here, I am starting to build my brand here. So I made it happen.”
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After spending the first six seasons as a reserve, Rooney was promoted to starter last season.he enters this season in the same statusOf the roster, only three Warriors – Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson – have served the franchise more consistently.
Looney is coming off his healthiest and most productive season, and it’s clear he values stability. So does Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who has acknowledged an affinity for Looney.
All things considered, Looney could very well be one of the few players to spend his entire career with one organization.
