Steve Kerr Reveals Warriors Player Expected to Play More Minutes: Who’s Stepping Up in Golden State’s Rotation?
As the 2024-2025 NBA season continues to unfold, the Golden State Warriors find themselves in an ever-evolving situation, with key players stepping up and others adjusting to the demands of a competitive Western Conference. Head coach Steve Kerr, known for his ability to adapt and manage rotations, recently made an intriguing announcement regarding one of his players expected to play a more prominent role in the team’s lineup moving forward. In an announcement that raised eyebrows across the Warriors’ fanbase, Kerr revealed that Kevon Looney, the team’s starting center, is going to see an increase in his minutes moving forward.
This decision comes at a critical point in the season as the Warriors navigate through their schedule and attempt to build consistency. Looney, who has been a core player for Golden State over the last few seasons, has often been the unsung hero for the team. Despite his relative lack of scoring, Looney’s contributions in rebounding, defense, and hustle plays have been invaluable to the Warriors’ success, particularly during their playoff runs in recent years.
In this piece, we’ll break down why Kerr’s decision to extend Looney’s minutes could have a profound impact on the Warriors, the implications for the team’s rotation, and how this fits into their bigger picture as they work toward another championship push.
Kevon Looney’s Impact on the Warriors: A Silent Force
Kevon Looney’s importance to the Golden State Warriors cannot be overstated, despite not being a player that demands headlines or highlights with high-scoring performances. Looney’s value lies in his steadiness, his leadership on defense, and his ability to do the dirty work that often gets overlooked in favor of flashier numbers.
Looney’s primary contributions come in the form of rebounding, defense, and setting screens. He is often tasked with guarding opposing bigs and anchoring the defense in the paint. He might not be a dominant shot-blocker or a rim protector like some of the NBA’s elite centers, but Looney’s ability to contest shots and limit second-chance opportunities makes him an irreplaceable part of Golden State’s defensive schemes.
On offense, Looney is a solid screener, often setting hard picks to free up the Warriors’ perimeter shooters. This is a crucial function, especially when you consider how important spacing is to Golden State’s offense. Looney’s setting of screens allows for the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole to get open looks, either for catch-and-shoot opportunities or for driving lanes that open up as defenders get caught in screens. Looney’s offensive value is often understated but still critical to the Warriors’ offensive flow.
Over the past few seasons, Looney has also become one of the best offensive rebounders in the league. His relentlessness on the boards, particularly on the offensive glass, has allowed the Warriors to extend possessions and generate extra opportunities. This is especially valuable for a team like Golden State, whose offense can get stagnant at times if they don’t create second-chance opportunities or take advantage of offensive rebounds.
Looney’s Statistics:
- Rebounds per Game: 9.2
- Offensive Rebounds per Game: 3.1
- Minutes per Game: 25.8
- Points per Game: 6.1
- Field Goal Percentage: 62%
While Looney’s numbers don’t jump off the page in terms of scoring or flashy statistics, they represent the consistency and hard work that define his role within the Warriors. Now, with Kerr’s recent decision to increase Looney’s minutes, it’s likely we’ll see more of this steady impact on the floor in key moments.
Why the Increase in Minutes? What Does Kerr See in Looney?
Steve Kerr’s decision to increase Looney’s minutes likely comes as a response to a few key factors that have emerged throughout the season. Let’s examine some of the reasons why Kerr might want to lean more on Looney, particularly in a season where the Warriors are balancing their championship aspirations with the realities of an aging core and a deep, competitive Western Conference.
1. Defensive Stability and Rebounding
One of the most obvious reasons Looney’s minutes might increase is his ability to provide defensive stability. The Warriors have often been criticized for their lack of size and physicality, particularly when it comes to defending against larger teams in the Western Conference. While Draymond Green is an elite defender, Looney’s size (6’9”, 222 pounds) and his ability to battle in the paint give Golden State another option in the frontcourt when facing physically imposing teams.
Looney’s impact on the glass also cannot be overstated. The Warriors are often a team that relies heavily on the three-point shot, which can lead to long rebounds and easy transition opportunities for their opponents. Looney’s aggressive work on the offensive boards helps limit these second-chance opportunities for the opposition while also giving the Warriors extra possessions to capitalize on. With the Warriors playing in a conference filled with physical teams (like the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Memphis Grizzlies), Looney’s rebounding could be a key asset in keeping them competitive.
2. Injuries to Other Bigs
Golden State has experienced injuries to some of its other frontcourt players, which has placed more pressure on Looney to step up. In particular, injuries to James Wiseman and the general fragility of veteran bigs like JaMychal Green and Donte DiVincenzo have made Looney’s minutes even more critical. While the Warriors have talented players in their backcourt and wing positions, they need to ensure they have enough depth in the frontcourt to defend effectively against opposing teams with dominant bigs.
Looney’s durability and consistency on both ends of the floor make him the safest option when Kerr needs a steady presence in the frontcourt. Given that he is one of the few reliable bigs on the roster, increasing his minutes helps mitigate the effects of injuries to other players.
3. Playoff Preparation and Long-Term Strategy
Kerr is also likely thinking about the long-term strategy of gearing up for another playoff run. The Warriors are always aiming to peak at the right time, and with an aging core that includes players like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Kerr may want to preserve their energy during the regular season while leaning on Looney more to take on a larger role.
By increasing Looney’s minutes, Kerr ensures that the Warriors have a reliable big man who can play heavy minutes in key postseason matchups. Looney’s minutes increase could be part of a larger strategy to rest their stars while making sure the team’s defensive integrity and rebounding ability don’t falter.
Looney’s familiarity with the Warriors’ system and the trust Kerr has in him to execute his role in the playoff atmosphere makes him a crucial part of Golden State’s postseason plans. Getting him acclimated to higher minutes now could help prepare the team for when the games matter most.
What Does This Mean for the Warriors’ Rotation?
Kerr’s decision to give Looney more minutes likely leads to some adjustments in the Warriors’ overall rotation. Here’s a breakdown of how this could affect the team’s playing time and lineup:
- Looney as a Full-Time Starter: Looney could see more consistent minutes as the starting center. While the Warriors have traditionally used a smaller lineup, especially with Draymond Green acting as the de facto center in some situations, the increased minutes for Looney suggest that Kerr wants to rely more on his size and rebounding, especially against larger teams.
- Minutes Distribution: Looney’s increased playing time could come at the expense of players like JaMychal Green and Kevon Looney. This means that the Warriors will likely rely less on small-ball lineups and give Looney a larger share of minutes as the team’s primary big man.
- Lineup Adjustments: Kerr may also experiment with lineups that feature Looney alongside Green, allowing for more defensive versatility while keeping the Warriors’ offense intact. The pairing of Looney and Green has worked in the past, and it gives Golden State the ability to switch on defense while still maintaining an anchor in the paint.
- More Responsibility for the Bench: With Looney seeing more time on the floor, Kerr may look to players like Jordan Poole and Moses Moody to step up and contribute offensively off the bench. Poole, in particular, has been a spark plug for the Warriors when their starting five is resting, and his role could become even more significant as Looney’s minutes increase.