Kevon Looney says he's fully healthy heading into the 2026-27 season

The Los Angeles Lakers currently face a potential roster weakness at the center position, due to the absence of adequate depth behind starting center Walker Kessler. In an effort to address this concern, the team signed veteran Kevon Looney and hybrid 4/5 forward Sandro Mamukelashvili this summer. However, there are concerns that if Kessler were to get injured, the Lakers might struggle at the center spot.

Looney, who is entering his 12th NBA season, has historically been an outstanding rebounder and a dependable defender. However, last season, he only played in 21 games with the New Orleans Pelicans, leading many to believe that he is past his prime and will contribute minimally to the Lakers this season. According to Khobi Price of the California Post, Looney has been fully healthy and that he had been dealing with a minor injury during the previous season.

Despite not being at full strength last season, Looney still managed to average 5.6 rebounds per game in 14.7 minutes per game. Known for his tenacity on the boards, particularly during his first ten NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Looney won three championships with the team and started in most of his games during their last world title run in the 2021-22 season. His experience will be invaluable for the Lakers, especially given their younger roster and the lack of playoff experience for some key players.