Kevon Looney

Every champion needs players willing to forgo personal glory in exchange for the gritty, unglamorous duties in the trenches. With the Golden State Warriors trailing their First Round series 2-0 and desperately needing a victory, Kevon Looney put his selfless craft on full display down low. When Klay Thompson misfired on a baseline jumper, Looney ripped the offensive rebound from multiple Sacramento Kings challengers and despite falling to the ground still had the wherewithal to roll the ball to Steph Curry, who converted the second-chance points with a runner off the glass. Looney had four points, 20 rebounds — nine on the offensive glass — and nine assists in a game his team never trailed, becoming just the fourth player in postseason history with nine-plus offensive boards and assists in the same game. The three-time champion and league leader in offensive rebounds helped get the Warriors back in the series with a 114-97 Game 3 victory on April 20, 2023.