Warriors' Kevon Looney explains toughest part of getting past injuries

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article_body => "In late July -- a little over two months after Kevon Looney underwent surgery to repair a core muscle injury -- Looney's agent said his client <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/warriors\/warriors-big-man-kevon-looney-100-percent-healthy-his-agent-says#:~:text=Warriors-,Warriors%20big%20man%20Kevon%20Looney,percent'%20healthy%2C%20his%20agent%20says&text=The%20Warriors%20big%20man%20%2D%2D,the%20Bay%20Area%20News%20Group.\">was \"100 percent\" recovered.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn Thursday afternoon, the Warriors' big man <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/warriors\/kevon-looney-mini-camp-92420\">provided an update<\/a> to reporters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\"It's been a success so far,\" Looney said after Golden State's second minicamp practice. \"I had a lot of time to take my time with the rehab. I didn't have to rush it since we weren't playing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\"So I was able to be real detail-oriented about it. And make sure I was feeling 100 percent before I got on the court. This camp has been great for me so I get a chance to play against the guys and test myself and see where I'm at.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/warriors-insider-podcast\">Download and subscribe to the Runnin' Plays Podcast<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/warriors-insider-podcast\/episodes\/ca92d0f1-6a89-47d7-89d7-e7888b42157f\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1600990856\" data-url-provider=\"ART19\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\nWhen was the last time he felt this good?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\"Probably the start of my third season (2017-18),\" Looney said. \"Now all the injuries have been put behind me. I can run freely. I don't have to worry about watching my steps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\"I really can just go out there and have fun and really just enjoy basketball.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe No. 30 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft had a career year in 2018-19, averaging 6.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists over 18.5 minutes per game.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWarriors coach Steve Kerr repeatedly called Looney a \"foundational piece,\" and was expecting big things from the Milwaukee native after he signed a three-year extension with Golden State in July 2019 worth about $14.5 million.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/warriors\/allen-iverson-really-wants-giannis-antetokounmpo-join-warriors\">NBA legend Iverson really wants Giannis to join Warriors<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\r\n\r\nBut Looney's season was derailed before it even began, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/warriors\/kevon-looney-explains-why-recent-injury-was-most-frustrating-career\">injuries never stopped coming.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nNow, the 24-year-old is moving forward and wants to prove his worth.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\"The biggest part for me is to stop being scared,\" he said. \"I played last season scared to move. The training staff took me through the rehab and told me to trust the surgery and trust the work I've been putting in. That really worked for me.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\"I'm able to do everything and wake up the next day and not be sore and not be in pain. That's why I'm so excited to be here.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\nFollow @DrewShiller on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrewShiller\">Twitter<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/drewshiller\/?hl=en\">Instagram<\/a><\/em><\/p>\r\n"
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Warriors

/ by Drew Shiller

Warriors

In late July -- a little over two months after Kevon Looney underwent surgery to repair a core muscle injury -- Looney's agent said his client was "100 percent" recovered.

On Thursday afternoon, the Warriors' big man provided an update to reporters.

"It's been a success so far," Looney said after Golden State's second minicamp practice. "I had a lot of time to take my time with the rehab. I didn't have to rush it since we weren't playing.

"So I was able to be real detail-oriented about it. And make sure I was feeling 100 percent before I got on the court. This camp has been great for me so I get a chance to play against the guys and test myself and see where I'm at."

Download and subscribe to the Runnin' Plays Podcast

When was the last time he felt this good?

"Probably the start of my third season (2017-18)," Looney said. "Now all the injuries have been put behind me. I can run freely. I don't have to worry about watching my steps.

"I really can just go out there and have fun and really just enjoy basketball."

The No. 30 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft had a career year in 2018-19, averaging 6.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists over 18.5 minutes per game.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr repeatedly called Looney a "foundational piece," and was expecting big things from the Milwaukee native after he signed a three-year extension with Golden State in July 2019 worth about $14.5 million.

RELATED: NBA legend Iverson really wants Giannis to join Warriors

But Looney's season was derailed before it even began, and the injuries never stopped coming.

Now, the 24-year-old is moving forward and wants to prove his worth.

"The biggest part for me is to stop being scared," he said. "I played last season scared to move. The training staff took me through the rehab and told me to trust the surgery and trust the work I've been putting in. That really worked for me.

"I'm able to do everything and wake up the next day and not be sore and not be in pain. That's why I'm so excited to be here."

Follow @DrewShiller on Twitter and Instagram