Warriors F Looney provides rehab update: ‘Changed my body a lot'

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Kevon Looney is not participating in the 2016 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

He underwent surgery on his left hip on April 22, and is currently rehabbing.

Will he be full steam ahead when training camp opens in late September.

"That's the goal," Looney told Bob Fitzgerald of KNBR 680 on Tuesday. "I've been working hard ... I'm feeling better. I can already tell the difference. I think I'm almost ahead of schedule, but if everything goes right, hopefully I'll be back for camp."

The Warriors selected Looney with the 30th overall pick last June.

About two months later, he underwent surgery on his right hip.

The UCLA product made his first professional appearance on Jan. 12 for the D-League Warriors.

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"I changed my body a lot," Looney said. "Last year, when I played Summer League, I was probably about 215 (pounds). Right now, I'm walking around 240-235 easily. I've been dedicated to the weight room ... just trying to get stronger, and started eating right and get healthy, and having my body in shape for next year."

In 12 games for Santa Cruz, Looney averaged 9.8 points and 7.4 rebounds in about 19 minutes per night, while shooting just under 40 percent from the field and 31 percent from deep.

Over his last seven contests, however, he shot over 47 percent overall, and 35 percent (7-for-20) from distance.

"I haven't been the most explosive guy, or the fastest guy, so I've relied on me being crafty and being able to make shots," Looney explained. "Especially on this team, you need spacing and I watched guys like Mo Speights where he comes in and knocked shots down and that was his role ... being a shooter, being able to make shots and rebound is a big way to get on the court."

Looney is listed at 6'9", but he has a 7'3.5" wingspan.

"I think I'm the prototypical Warriors player," Looney declared. "Real versatile. I can play the 4, the 3, sometimes when we going small I can play the 5 ... I feel comfortable playing a lot of positions. I know one thing that I'm really great at is rebounding. That's something I always focused on. I think that can get me on the court as quick as possible."

Looney averaged just 1.4 assists per game as a freshman in college, but he also believes he can make those around him better.

He appeared in five games for Golden State last season.

"I haven't always been big, or not as big as I am. I came into high school, I was about 6'4", 150 (pounds) so that made me be a guard. So I brought the ball up the court, I was put into position to make plays for other people," he noted. "And that's something I always continued to work on. And coming into this system where I like to model myself after Draymond -- who is one of the best passers in the league at his position -- so I'll just keep watching him ... I'm real excited for next year."

 

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