The Golden State Warriors expect to have one of their more experienced young players return to the floor Saturday.
According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, fifth-year big man Kevon Looney is expected to play in the Warriors’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Looney will come off the bench and will play a maximum of 20 minutes. He has missed the past 18 games because of abdominal soreness.
Looney, 23, hasn’t played the majority of this season because of different injuries. He played the season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers, but then he missed 20 consecutive games because of a nerve condition.
This season Looney has played in 10 games and has averaged 10.5 minutes per game. Though injuries have hampered his season, Looney’s play in the past has been effective for the Warriors, a team that has helped revolutionize positionless basketball.
Kevon Looney is expected to return from his 18-game absence tonight. Coming off the bench and there’s a 20-minute limit.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 1, 2020
At 6-foot-9, Looney has typically played center, but he has the length and enough quickness to defend perimeter players if necessary.
Last season was Looney’s best because he proved he could be a quality rebounder and scorer around the basket. He averaged a career-high 5.2 rebounds per game, and according to Basketball Reference he shot 72.4% on shots 0-3 feet from the hoop.
[lawrence-related id=21592,19145,19165,18728]