https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/kevon-looney-shows-why-hes-one-best-nba-centers-warriors-game-7-win

Looney proves he's one of NBA's best centers in Game 7 win

1H ago
by Dalton Johnson

SACRAMENTO -- Down by two points going into halftime, the third quarter
Sunday at Golden 1 Center opened with a Kevon Looney defensive rebound.
On the other side of the court, Steph Curry gave the Warriors a
one-point lead with a step-back 3-pointer.

The Sacramento Kings' only lead the rest of the way was one minute and
17 seconds into the second half when two Kevin Huerter free throws put
them up 61-59. The Warriors dominated the final 22-plus minutes on their
way to a 20-point Game 7 win against the Kings on the backs of Curry and
Looney.

One already has proven he's an all-time great, and only added to his
legacy with a historic 50-point performance. The other keeps quietly
dusting his competition, smiling at everyone else getting headlines and
accolades.

"I think Loon is one of the best centers in the league," Steve Kerr said
after the Warriors' win. "I really do. People don't recognize because
he's not dunking and shooting threes and all that stuff. But this guy is
a flat-out winner and he's a machine.

"We wouldn't be here without him."

Looney averaged a career high in points this season, his eighth as a pro
with the Warriors. His 7.0 points per game also ranked eighth on his own
team. He played all 82 regular-season games and finished with 68 dunks,
none exactly hitting highlight reels across social media platforms.

He took one 3-pointer in a 24-point blowout win, and it didn't swish
through the net.

And none of that matters. He's a combination of old-school with his
relentless hard work, grinding for rebounds and thriving in all the
little things that matter to rack up wins. He's also a combination of
new-school, standing as a 6-foot-9 center who bodies bigger players and
works as a playmaker out of the post and off pick-and-rolls.

Sunday's first-round conclusion which was a heavyweight fight for all
seven games flipped in the third quarter. Looney scored two points in
the period, Curry scored 14. Both might have been equally important as
the Warriors outscored the Kings 35-23 and held a 10-point lead going
into the fourth.

Through the first two quarters, Looney had eight rebounds. He came down
with 10 alone in the third quarter, including seven on the offensive
glass. The Kings attempted five more shots than the Warriors in the
first half, and the Warriors, in a large part thanks to Looney, took 10
more than the Kings in the third quarter.

"Everything started with Kevon," Draymond Green said. "... Where it
started with Loon was dominating the glass. Once we dominated the glass,
it allowed us to show how good our defense had been. Once we did that,
it allowed us to set our offense, get good offensive possessions and we
connected the game together.

"Kevon Looney was huge."

The Warriors had a 14-rebound advantage in the third quarter, snatching
23 compared to only nine by the Kings. Golden State also grabbed 13
offensive rebounds in the third, tied for the most by any team for a
quarter, regular season or playoffs, in the last 20 years. As a team,
the Warriors had 33 rebounds in the second half.

The Kings had 21.

Looney himself had 13 boards in the second half. His counterpart, Kings
All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, had three.

"That's what makes it fun," Looney said. "If you're doing all the hard
work, pushing and shoving and getting hit with elbows, doing it all to
get extra possessions for your team and to see them make a shot and
change momentum -- it's just a great feeling.

"I know it helps us win. I live for those moments."

Coming into the series, much was made about what a size advantage the
Kings had, especially with Sabonis on their side. Green would have his
go at the 7-footer but not all game. Nobody predicted the Warriors would
have an advantage down low.

In reality, Looney completely outplayed someone who likely is bound for
an All-NBA team.

Over the course of the seven-game series, Looney totaled 29 more
rebounds than Sabonis in 32 fewer minutes. Sabonis averaged 11.0
rebounds, 77 in total. Looney averaged 15.1 rebounds, racking up a total
of 106. Remember, Sabonis was the NBA's rebounding leader in the regular
season, averaging 12.3 per game -- three more than Looney's 9.3 average.
Advertisement

Prior to Game 5 in Sacramento, Sabonis was honored for his rebounding
title and lifted his award to the delight of Kings fans. What happened
next was the Warriors outlasting the Kings, and Looney being a plus-8
with 22 rebounds. Sabonis was a minus-1 with 10 rebounds.

Everything came down to Game 7. Looney saved his best for last, giving
the Warriors an 11-point, 21-rebound double-double. He was a plus-22
after snatching 11 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive. Sabonis, who
scored 22 points to go with eight rebounds, was a minus-22.

So much faced the Warriors. A continuation of a dynasty or an offseason
of question marks. Their superstar was a superstar. Their Venus Flytrap
frustrated the Kings one final time, one rebound at a time.

Looney became the third Warrior with 20 or more rebounds three times or
more in a single playoff series, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Nate
Thurmond. He's the first player since Dwight Howard in 2008 to
accomplish the feat. The first two names are Hall of Famers, and Howard
has a strong case to one day wear an orange jacket as well.

Overcoming too many trials and tribulations to count, Looney is more
than a good story. He's an elite center, who has established himself as
a core contributor to the Warriors being everything they are as winners
and, ultimately, champions.

There's only one Steph Curry. Luckily for the Warriors, there's only one
Kevon Looney.