The Consistency of "Iron Man" Kevon Looney

The term "iron man" has been thrown around quite a bit in the NBA. It's a term dedicated to demonstrating how one player consistently shows up night-in and night-out. These are the most durable players in the league –– the ones who always show up, the ones who play through an injury, and the ones who refuse to take a night off, even if the game is a scheduled loss.

For the Warriors last season, it was forward Andrew Wiggins –– who played in 71 of the 72 games in a shortened season. And now, it's center Kevon Looney. The importance of Looney's presence with the Golden State Warriors should not be understated. While players like superstar Stephen Curry, guard Klay Thompson and now guard Jordan Poole receives the spotlight, Looney is one of those under-appreciated players that every championship-caliber team needs.

He doesn't have the flashiest playstyle, but that's because he doesn't need to. Like forward Draymond Green, Looney does all the dirty work. His critical motor with the rebounding battle and his efforts to stop the opposing big men are essential in any team's success. Though his offensive production is limited, he makes timely buckets when he needs to and precisely knows his role on this team. And with the Western Conference loaded with talented centers like Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl Anthony Towns, it's up to Looney to stop these forces down low with Warriors' center James Wiseman now out for the year.

 In his seventh season with the Warriors –– Looney remains the longest-tenured Warrior along with Curry, Thompson and Green. It's crucial to have roster stability and veteran leadership in any team. Looney provides that steady, low-maintenance attitude that is perfect for his role on the team. As one of the veterans on the team, Looney understands these sets better than anyone and is always ready to clean up the dirty work –– like Green. Having won three championships with Curry and Thompson, he's also familiar with their unique playstyle, making him more valuable in the offense when surrounded by younger players who aren’t familiar with the system.

Looney has been solid all-around, averaging a consistent 6.3 points and 7.6 rebounds this season while playing 16 minutes a game. He’s even got a game-winner versus the Indiana Pacers in a 102-100 win. Looney finished the game with 14 points and eight rebounds. Everyone knew the ball was going to Curry with the game on the line. As the ball scrambled around, the Pacers lost sight of Looney –– who converted on the go-ahead layup.

Looney's best stretch of this season came when Green had to sit out from mid-January to February. Looney averaged 6.5 points and 9.9 rebounds in February while playing 24.9 minutes a game. When fully healthy, the lineup that Head Coach Steve Kerr used the most headlined Curry, Poole, Wiggins, Green and Looney. Appearing in 29 games, this five-man lineup had an impressive offensive rating of 112.2, with an assist to turnover ratio of 21.3 and a net rating of 8.2, according to NBA.com.

While the superstars like Curry and Thompson will carry the offensive load and often the spotlight, the team's role players and unsung heroes are often forgotten. Looney's work with the Warriors in the past seven seasons should not go unnoticed. He's a critical component that makes the Warriors engine run, and his effort should not go unnoticed.

(Photo credit: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)