Trayce Jackson-Davis describes lifelong impression Kevon Looney left on him

SAN ANTONIO – The text that eased Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis into the NBA came from the man who soon became a mentor and lifelong example to live by.Kevon Looney, for the first time in his 11-year NBA career, will be the Warriors’ opponent instead of their teammate on Sunday when Golden State plays the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans signed Looney to a two-year, &dollar;16 million contract over the summer, agreeing to a deal a few hours into free agency. His free agency was short and to the point. The Warriors weren’t going to offer Looney close to the same amount of money as the Pelicans. They thanked him for everything he meant in the last decade and wished him luck.What Looney meant to the Warriors will be heard from coach Steve Kerr’s pregame speech before hugs from him and other coaches, and every teammate who played with him, whether it was for one season or all 10. The impact he made on Jackson-Davis was instant.“Loon is someone that – when I got drafted, he sent me a text message. He was like, ‘If you ever need anything, you let me know.’ And then just from there on, he’s always been a great vet,” Jackson-Davis told NBC Sports Bay Area.In a few words, Jackson-Davis knew he was in good hands. That he had been drafted by the right team, and that he already had someone who would look out for him.“It was huge,” he remembers. “Literally had just got drafted, it was the next day, I didn’t even know BP [Brandin Podziemski] yet, and it just made me feel comfortable, like at least there’s someone out here where if I ever need anything, I’ll be good. Especially with how I was moving across the country.”When the Warriors traded back into the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft to take Jackson-Davis, who is represented by general manager Mike Dunleavy’s brother, James, Looney could have looked at him as only his latest competition. The next person to try and take his job as the Warriors’ starting center. The next player the Warriors thought would do exactly that.They had added to the position in the draft and free agency throughout Looney’s tenure. He just kept persisting. The man who might as well have brought a hard hat and metal lunch pail to work every day has seen all angles of the business side of basketball.None of that was going to change who Looney is as a person. That’s a lesson for all young players to learn that he displayed. Jackson-Davis saw it in how both their roles fluctuated over the past two seasons.Sometimes Looney was the starter. Other times, Jackson-Davis was. There were games where neither was, and even being in the rotation at all was a yes and a no, depending on the day. How Looney prepared and responded either way said everything to Jackson-Davis.“Someone that has been in a similar position to me, especially the past few years, where he doesn’t know if he’s going to play, when he’s going to play,” Jackson-Davis said. “Learning those things from him, and just how he came to work every day, he’s just a true professional.“And I miss him, and it’s going to be great to see him.”Every day at practice and in games for two years, Jackson-Davis watched how Looney rebounded, set screens, understood the Warriors’ offense and defended out of the post. He saw how he absorbed film, and how he’s a leader in the locker room. Their lockers were a few down from each other, and like Looney, Jackson-Davis always is an upbeat presence inside.The lasting impression Looney left on Jackson-Davis wasn’t words of advice. It was watching him every day.“His best advice … man, it’s not even advice, but just who he is. On or off the court, he’s the same person,” Jackson-Davis says. “He’s a really, really, really good dude. He’s someone that you hang out with and he’s always in your corner. If you ever need something, he’ll be there. He’s a true friend.“Obviously, it’s basketball and it’s our job, but at the same time, you can always tell that he’s genuine. That’s the type of person that I want to be.”Jackson-Davis wished Looney good luck after learning the news of him going to New Orleans. They haven’t talked much since, but did text about the Indiana vs. UCLA football game, a bragging rights result of a 56-6 beatdown from Jackson-Davis’ Hoosiers on Looney’s Bruins. Jackson-Davis said he’d definitely hit Looney up when the Warriors landed in the Big Easy, and he can’t wait to see him.The apprenticeship of Jackson-Davis under Looney hasn’t stopped him from remembering what he was taught. The two have a four-year age gap and birthdays 16 days apart. But Looney has played in the NBA eight more years than Jackson-Davis, truly seeing it all.Not everything. Not yet.Playing the Warriors will be emotional for Looney, even more so when he comes to Chase Center in two weeks. Those feelings are something Jackson-Davis can’t fathom, and he already knows what he’s going to do when he gets to see his friend again.“It’s going to be good,” Jackson-Davis says. “It’s crazy, because some of my best friends are my college teammates and I spent two to three years with them. And then you get to the NBA and I spent two years with Loon. With some of these other guys, it’s crazy how long they did.“I’m going to say what’s up, dap him up and then obviously we’re going to play them and it’s war. And he’s going to be the same way. He’s going to treat it like a professional. Off the court, he’s going to be cool, but I bet you he fouls the shit out of a lot of people.”Just like brothers know best.Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Trayce Jackson-Davis describes lifelong impression Kevon Looney left on him

Trending News