“Tears in the Bay: Coach Steve Kerr’s Unseen Goodbye to Longtime Warrior Kevon Looney”
In a move that stunned the basketball world, the Golden State Warriors have officially closed one of their most significant chapters — and the way they did it speaks volumes. After a decade of understated but indispensable service, veteran center Kevon Looney has agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, marking the end of his nine-year run in the Bay Area. erged, Steve Kerr didn’t issue a typical press release. Instead, the coach delivered a heartfelt farewell that left multiple staff members in the Warriors’ organisation visibly shaken. He called Looney “the ultimate professional,” acknowledged his unsung role in three championship runs, and emphasised the mentorship and culture-setting he provided behind the scenes.
“Just your professionalism, your dignity, your class… the way you handled yourself, the way you mentor your young teammates,” Kerr said in a video message posted to the team’s social channels. “And of course, the championship contributions you made.”
Although Looney’s stats may never have dominated headlines — his last season averaged roughly 4.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in 15 minutes per game — those numbers belie the trust the Warriors placed in him during their most critical moments. He wasn’t flashy, but he was foundational; the kind of player coaches dream of when the lights are brightest.
And yet the timing feels like a jolt. With Curry, Thompson and others having set a dynasty in motion, the loss of Looney feels like a symbolic pivot. The Warriors are ushering out their old guard — and in doing so, they’ve brought to light how much they leaned on Looney’s stability, even if the broader public rarely noticed.
Kerr’s words hit hard: “We lost a piece of our soul,” one source close to the team said, quoting the coach’s private remarks. That’s not the language of a straightforward roster move. That’s the tone of change.
For the fans who watched from Oracle to the Chase Center, Looney’s departure raises the question: what now? The Warriors, already navigating salary-cap challenges and a roster in transition, must fill a void not just in minutes, but in identity.
And for Looney, the move to New Orleans isn’t just about a new contract — it’s a new chapter. After years of commitment to one franchise, he’ll join the Pelicans with a chance to contribute in fresh ways. The farewell from his former coach acknowledged as much: “Thank you for everything,” Kerr concluded. “I can’t thank you enough.”
There’s no bitterness, no public blame. Just gratitude — and a clear signal that the Warriors are turning the page. In basketball, change often arrives quietly. But sometimes, a goodbye speaks louder than any arrival.
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