When the Los Angeles Lakers signed veteran center Kevon Looney, the response in the NBA community was rather divided. Some praised the three-time NBA champion for his professionalism and selflessness, while others questioned what a player who at times struggles as a pick-and-roll finisher could offer to a team with the Lakers' makeup and general strategy.
It took just one interview for Looney to answer the question of what he can bring to the table, as his personal goals for the 2026-27 season all seem to center around how he can help his teammates.
Looney, 30, has spent the past 11 seasons earning praise for his effort, intensity, and unselfish approach to winning. Unfortunately, he's also been a fairly limited offensive player. Thankfully, the goals he's set for himself in 2026-27 aren't built around personal gain, but how he can help his new teammates achieve their full potential.
During a recent interview with Mark Medina of Fadeaway World, Looney was asked what Doncic and Reaves can do for his game. Rather than focusing on himself, he quickly pivoted to discussing how he can help them.
"For me, I can bring some toughness to the team, physicality and offensive rebounding. As a screener, I can get guys like Luka and Austin open. I’m looking forward to that. I know if I can get those guys open, they can also get me a lot of layups and dunks (laughs). I’m super excited about all of that. I’m trying to watch more film and more of the games so I know how to implement myself.”
Looney continued, praising Doncic as a pick-and-roll specialist and explaining that he's excited to learn what it is that he can do to simplify the game for his new teammates.
"They’re both scoring guards. So I can hold my screens. That should relieve them some pressure so they can get a clean look. That’s something that I specialize at. So I’m super excited to do it for those guys. Luka is a pick-and-roll master. He’s probably the best in the league at it with finding angles and manipulating the defense. I want to pick his mind and learn from him and how he wants his screens set."
That selfless mentality is exactly why Looney is an 11-year veteran—and why the Lakers were wise to bring him aboard as a player whose primary value will be found in simplifying the game for the stars.
Kevon Looney is committed to learning how he can help Doncic, Reaves
Looney finished the 2025-26 regular season with averages of 5.1 screen assists and 12.5 points generated via screen assists per 36 minutes. Had he met the minimum number of games played to qualify for such a distinction, that would've placed him in the top 10 in the NBA in both areas.
That's consistent with where Looney has spent his career. In 2024-25, for instance, he appeared in 76 games and, on a per-36 basis, ranked No. 3 in the NBA in screen assists and No. 1 in screen assists points.
An elite screen-setter who knows how to generate points in a guard-driven offense, Looney is a perfect fit for the Lakers in that regard. He's an unselfish big who doesn't necessarily need to be on the receiving end of a pass to find the motivation to take pressure off of his teammates with strong and stable screens.
That alone makes him an excellent addition to a Lakers side that runs its offense through two ball-dominant guards who prefer to operate out of the pick and roll.
Kevon Looney is a top-tier screen-setter on a team in need
It certainly doesn't hurt that Looney is also known to be one of the most prolific offensive rebounders in the NBA. Between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, he accumulated averages of 10.0 points, 14.4 rebounds, 5.8 offensive boards, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per 36 minutes.
That's excellent news for a Lakers team that ranked No. 28 in the NBA in second chance points and No. 24 in offensive rebounding percentage with their oft-maligned interior options.
Looney will need to improve the consistency of his finishing around the rim and the reliability he provides in fielding passes out of the pick and roll. His success in doing so will likely play a direct role in deciding how often he's on the court during the 2026-27 season, particularly with Walker Kessler slotted in as the full-time starter.
Though there are question marks that need to be addressed, Looney's unselfish approach to the game and desire to make things simpler for Doncic and Reaves proves he was an excellent offseason signing after all.
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