Heading into the 2025-26 season, there was hype surrounding the New Orleans Pelicans' addition of three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney. It was expected that Looney was going to bring a veteran voice, elite rebounding, and screening, as well as help establish a culture with this young group. Unfortunately, he got hurt during the preseason and has been watching from the sidelines through the Pelicans' first four games, and his absence on the court has been felt.
Like I mentioned, one of the main things Looney was brought in to provide was rebounding, which has arguably been the team's biggest problem to start the season. New Orleans ranks second-worst in defensive rebounds per game and is giving up the third-most offensive rebounds per game.
These rebounding struggles have played a massive role in the team starting this season winless through their first four games. The Pelicans' opponents are deliberately game-planning around these rebounding struggles, as opposing coaches are emphasizing crashing the glass hard when playing New Orleans.
If Looney were in the New Orleans lineup, teams wouldn't be able to take advantage of them on the glass. Over the past three seasons, he ranked within the 78th percentile among bigs in defensive rebounding percentage, according to Cleaning the Glass statistics.
Looney's return can't come soon enough
The Pelicans are falling apart early on in this season and are in dire need of a lifeline. Looney's return could be that lifeline, but it might come too late. His return is expected to come within the next week, but by then, the Pelicans' season could be out of reach.
With the next four games coming against the LA Clippers, reigning NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Charlotte Hornets, and Dallas Mavericks, there is a reality where the team could fall to 0-8. If that happens, the chances of the Pelicans digging themselves out of that hole and becoming a playoff team even when Looney returns are extremely low.
Initially, I thought seeing Looney go down with an injury wasn't as big a deal as most people did. The team still had Derik Queen and Yves Missi, two young high-potential bigs, but we are seeing that neither of them is even close to the threat Looney can be on the glass.
Once again, it feels like the Pelicans organization and fans may be among the unluckiest in all of professional sports. Year in and year out, this team continues to see the injury bug crush all the hype they build in the offseason.