One former UCLA Bruin is returning to Los Angeles, with center Kevon Looney agreeing to a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the signing on Tuesday, with Looney joining the Lakers on a one-year deal.
The deal is reportedly worth $3.9 million, with the longtime Golden State Warriors center returning to the Pacific Division after one season with the New Orleans Pelicans. Looney could slide into the Lakers’ rotation as a backup center for the newly-acquired Walker Kessler.
Looney played in just 21 games last year with the Pelicans but could find himself in more game action with Los Angeles. Kessler, who the Lakers acquired to be the franchise center, played in just five games last season and has played in 70 games in just one of his four NBA seasons.
UCLA had Looney on their roster for the 2014-2015 season, where the 6’9” center played in 36 games, scoring 11.6 points and grabbing 9.2 rebounds per game. Looney plays a much different game now, with a hip injury suffered at UCLA severely impacting Looney’s lateral movement.
The injury hasn’t stopped Looney from being a strong NBA player. Looney was a key piece on multiple NBA champion teams with the Warriors. Looney began his NBA career on the Warriors’ 73-win team in 2016 and went onto win three NBA Finals alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Now Looney will join another star, Luka Doncic, who looks to return the Lakers to the NBA Finals after LeBron James left Los Angeles this offseason.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Former Bruin Kevon Looney returns to Los Angeles with the Lakers
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire | USA TODAY Network
