After being discarded by the Warriors, now starting for another team, Kerr owes him an apology.

The NBA preseason is underway, and today the Pelicans competed against Melbourne United in a preseason matchup. They secured a 107-97 victory over Melbourne United. This game marked the debut of two important new Pelicans players, Jordan Poole and Kevin Looney, with Zion also making his first appearance following his weight loss.

After shedding weight, Zion moved faster on the court but still maintained strong physicality. He played only 15 minutes in the game but scored 15 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. His plus-minus rating was the highest on the team at +10. Jordan Poole also started and played 20 minutes, contributing 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Looney started as well, finishing with 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.

Looney left the Warriors, where he spent 10 years, and joined the Pelicans during this offseason, reuniting with his former teammate Poole. When discussing his former team, Looney mentioned that his playing time with the Warriors was inconsistent and that he didn’t receive full trust. However, with the Pelicans, it’s clear they have great confidence in him, as evidenced by his starting role. Although Looney’s rim protection isn’t as strong as McGee’s, his screen-setting and rebounding positioning are very effective. The Pelicans’ head coach, who previously served as an assistant coach with the Warriors, knows Looney’s strengths well, so starting him is a sign of trust.

Strictly speaking, Looney’s time with the Pelicans represents a fresh chance to prove himself. In the new season, he can focus on blue-collar tasks like setting more screens for Jordan Poole and Zion. Additionally, he needs to provide more consistent rebounding. His ability to secure offensive rebounds has always been strong, which can subtly create more second-chance scoring opportunities for Zion.

However, Looney might face some adjustment challenges with the Pelicans. For example, in today’s game, teammates rarely created scoring chances for him, whereas with the Warriors, he might have had more offensive freedom. Still, for Looney, getting playing time is what matters most. Being on the court gives him the opportunity to demonstrate his skills. In fact, Kerr owes Looney an apology because Looney made significant contributions to the Warriors and deserved more consistent minutes. His impact was clearly visible.