Loyalty is a prized possession in the NBA. Not every player sticks around one franchise for too long. You could call this a move for championships. But for the players of the Golden State Warriors, it’s different. It feels like they wear loyalty like a badge of honor. Look at Stephen Curry, entering year 17. Draymond Green is in year 14. Then there was one, who took home three championships: Kevon Looney. However, earlier in July, as free agency approached, he decided to walk away after 10 years.

Despite their time together consisting of three championship-winning seasons, Curry holds a special place in his heart for Looney. Therefore, while he was lifting dumbbells on the bench for a few sets of bench press, the Baby-Faced Assassin had a message for his beloved teammate.

“Tunes, so this is for you, dawg. I know we’re not together anymore, but big guards, baby. I’m on the other side of the weight rack. You know what he’s wasting,” Stephen Curry said, with a hint of mischief. Steph’s trainer informed him that he was going to do five sets, as the benchmark was at four sets.

“Let’s go,” he said, motivated. “That was always a joke. Tunes has a big weight on one side of the rack, and everybody else on the other side of the rack. And then when I graduated to the 80s and up, he welcomed me with open arms.”

After a decade of loyalty and championship glory with the Golden State Warriors, Kevon Looney finally took a bold step, signing a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans in July 2025. Feeling underappreciated and craving a fresh challenge, he left the Golden State Warriors to start a new chapter.

Now, speaking of the Pelicans, their preseason campaign kicked off on Tuesday against the Houston Rockets. The 128-130 defeat didn’t have Looney on the floor. While Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Fears, and others, fought on the floor to survive against Kevin Durant & Co., the 29-year-old ex-Warriors big man went missing. Why?

Stephen Curry’s ex-teammate Kevon Looney will miss the basketball action for a while

Kevon Looney’s fresh start with the New Orleans Pelicans has encountered a setback, as the team announced on Wednesday that he has a left knee injury. Doctors expect the proximal tibiofibular ligament sprain to keep him sidelined for two to three weeks. The 6-foot-9 center sustained the injury during a preseason game against the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Australia on October 5.

Entering his 11th NBA season, Looney brings with him the experience of winning three championship rings with the Golden State Warriors. Throughout his career, he has averaged 5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, demonstrating his steady presence in the paint. As one of Joe Dumars’ key offseason signings, the Pelicans are eager for his return, knowing that his grit and poise can be crucial to their success once he is back on the court.

Well, for Stephen Curry’s former teammate, the 2025-26 season is going to start with a bump. But for Steph? He’s already dropping 28 points in the preseason, showing the world that he’s ready in Year 17. And amidst all the heat of the upcoming season, the 37-year-old hasn’t forgotten being all playful about the “good ol’ days” with his Looney at the weight racks. So, no matter where Kevon Looney plays, the Dubs won’t forget him.