Kevon Looney looks like he is ready to put his boots up on your new suede couch.
Looney, who recently agreed to terms with the New Orleans Pelicans in free agency, officially signed his new contract with the team on Monday. The Pelicans posted a photo to X of Looney putting pen to paper.
pen to paper for the big man, @Loon_Rebel5 pic.twitter.com/Zx8UtVnTQT
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 7, 2025
Social media users were a bit taken aback by Looney’s new appearance with the long dreadlocks (that almost made him look like he had a Jheri curl). As a result, jokes began flying about how much Looney resembled the late Rick James (or least the Dave Chappelle version of James).
Lookin like pic.twitter.com/mU5OMzMJPY
— jotham the 1st 🇺🇬 (@JothamKitara) July 7, 2025
— TheBlueprint™² (@Carlito_336) July 7, 2025
waaaaait a minute pic.twitter.com/fsF9kft7Sa
— HumbleForever (@DaRealSkeet) July 8, 2025
— Jay (@JayHardy252) July 7, 2025
The 29-year-old Looney made the stunning decision to sign with the Pelicans on a multi-year deal after spending the first 10 seasons of his NBA career with the Golden State Warriors. Looney was part of three total Golden State championship teams (in 2017, 2018, and 2022) as an important blue-collar role player who helped man the interior on both ends of the floor.
For the Pelicans next season, Looney, who averaged 4.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in a mere 15.0 minutes per game last season, should be able to do more of the same. Yves Missi, 21, and Derik Queen, 20, will be Looney’s main competition for center minutes, so the former UCLA star is set to provide some valuable frontcourt experience.
As for Looney’s hair, he has played with dreadlocks before but never quite that … free-flowing. Perhaps Looney learned that one from his former star teammate who actually has a tattoo of the “Super Freak” hitmaker James.
