Kevon Looney is trending in the United States after the Los Angeles Lakers added the veteran center, with critics questioning the move because of his recent struggles with the New Orleans Pelicans. Looney says he is fully healthy heading into the 2026-27 NBA season, setting up a sharp debate over whether the Lakers made a smart frontcourt bet or repeated a recent mistake.
The backlash arrived before the Lakers’ new season had begun. Rather than being treated as a routine roster move, Looney’s addition has become a test of the team’s judgment. The criticism centers on whether his recent performance with New Orleans gives Los Angeles enough reason to trust him in its frontcourt.
Why are the Lakers being criticized for adding Kevon Looney?
The main argument from Looney’s critics is straightforward: the Lakers are relying on a player whose most recent stint reportedly raised serious concerns. Lake Show Life argued that the Lakers’ trust in Looney was misguided after his struggles with the Pelicans. That assessment places the focus not only on the player but also on Los Angeles’ decision to bring him into the rotation.
The criticism is particularly pointed because Looney is expected to provide size and experience as a 6-foot-9 center. His addition gives the Lakers another veteran option in the frontcourt, but the move also invites scrutiny if his recent form does not improve. Lake Show Life’s argument is that the Lakers’ optimism is not supported by what Looney showed during his time in New Orleans.
Heavy.com took the criticism further, reporting that the Lakers have been urged to dismiss their newly added 6-foot-9 center. The outlet’s headline described his previous campaign as “last season’s disaster,” a phrase that has become central to the online discussion around the move.
What went wrong for Kevon Looney with the Pelicans?
The headlines from Lake Show Life and Heavy.com do not provide a detailed statistical breakdown of Looney’s Pelicans stint. They do, however, agree on the broad storyline: his time in New Orleans was viewed harshly, and his struggles are now shaping the reaction to his arrival in Los Angeles.
Lake Show Life pointed to those struggles as the reason the Lakers’ confidence in Looney appears questionable. Heavy.com similarly framed his previous season as a disaster while calling for the Lakers to move on from the recently added center. Together, the reports explain why the roster move has generated so much attention despite the season still being ahead.
That criticism does not establish what Looney’s role will be once the Lakers begin playing. It does show that his past performance has created a high bar for the veteran center. Any contribution he makes in Los Angeles will be judged against the concerns that followed him from New Orleans.
Is Kevon Looney healthy for the 2026-27 season?
According to Yahoo Sports, Looney says he is fully healthy heading into the 2026-27 season. His health claim offers a direct response to the doubts surrounding his recent form and gives him a clear argument for a fresh start with the Lakers.
Being healthy does not resolve the questions about his performance, but it removes one potential concern from the conversation. Looney is presenting himself as ready for the season, while critics are focused on whether he can translate that readiness into dependable play for Los Angeles.
The difference between those two views will be tested during the 2026-27 campaign. Looney says he is physically prepared; the Lakers’ critics want to see whether he can also regain the level of play expected from a veteran center. Until games begin, the debate remains centered on his recent past and the Lakers’ decision to give him another opportunity.
What does Kevon Looney need to prove with the Lakers?
Looney’s immediate challenge is to show that his Pelicans struggles do not define what he can provide in Los Angeles. The reports do not specify his exact role or projected workload, so his importance to the Lakers’ rotation has not been confirmed. The broader question is whether the team’s confidence in him will look justified once the season is underway.
For now, the Lakers’ move has produced two competing narratives. Lake Show Life and Heavy.com have emphasized the risk created by Looney’s recent struggles, with Heavy.com urging the team to dismiss him. Yahoo Sports, meanwhile, reported Looney’s own message that he is fully healthy for the coming season.
That tension is why Looney has become a trending NBA topic. The Lakers have made their addition; Looney has made his health case; and the 2026-27 season will determine whether the criticism or the player’s comeback story carries more weight.