NBA: Warriors Sticking With Kevon Looney Despite Limitations Looming

KEY POINTS

Kevon Looney continues to struggle with neuropathy
Warriors coach Steve Kerr remains upbeat on Looney's return
Looney has not played more than 30 minutes thus far because of his health condition

The Golden State Warriors need all the help they can get right now and one guy who can help is Kevon Looney. Considered one of the foundational players by head coach Steve Kerr, the 23-year-old is far from ready to play with the Dubs. The worst part is that he is nowhere near ready to help the Warriors. And even if he is, the 6-foot-9 cager cannot play beyond 30 minutes.

The reason for the limited minutes on Looney is because of a nerve condition called neuropathy. Looney has been dealing with the illness that cannot be necessarily cured. It is one of the reasons why he has been kept out of training camp and missed NBA preseason games. To combat the illness, Looney has tried a shift in diet, Mercury News reported. Hopefully, giving up meat and gluten can work for the Warriors big man moving forward.

The question now is how long will it take for Looney to get back into shape. The Warriors are well on their way to a forgettable season. However, they are expected to go down fighting. This season, Looney has played a total of 91 minutes and his total production (19 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks) are far from comforting. Nevertheless, Kerr remains positive on the 30th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, NBC Sports reported.

"I'm not worried about him. This year is more about developing the players that you don't know about, and it's about getting the mainstays healthy instead of ruining our mainstays," he said.

Looking ahead, the durability of the former UCLA standout that comes to mind. He has never played beyond 30 minutes and may never will due to his condition. If this is the case, Looney may be utilized via spot minutes from here on. The good news is that he does deliver quality minutes. But it also means the Dubs may need more big men to help them upfront.

It remains to be seen if Looney can overcome neuropathy. Golden State is still hanging in there but there is no telling up to when. The two-time NBA champion did sign a three-year contract with the Dubs for his performance last season. It will be interesting if he will get another one after this pact runs out.