Before Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney became an NBA champion, he tried to guide UCLA to a national championship when he was with the Bruins for the 2014-15 season.
Although UCLA lost in the South Regional semifinal to Gonzaga, Looney said it was one of the moments he will remember for the rest of his life.
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UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney, #5, in the Sweet Sixteen. (Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“March Madness was a lot of fun,” he told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “Until I got here (to the NBA), it was the biggest game, the arena that I got to play in, which is pretty cool.
“These are moments that you will remember for the rest of your life. My advice to the kids coming in is just enjoy it, embrace it. Embrace the media, embrace your practices, embrace your teammates. You don't know How long will you be able to play this basketball game, play on this type of stage.”
Looney said his March Madness experience was “a lot of fun,” but he wishes he could have helped the Bruins go further.
Kevon Looney, #5 of the UCLA Bruins, watches the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the South Regional semifinal of the 2015 NCAA men's basketball tournament at NRG Stadium on March 27, 2015 in Houston. (King Lance/Getty Images)
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UCLA was the region's No. 11 seed and dominated SMU in the round of 16. In the Round of 16, the team took care of No. 14 UAB before losing in the Sweet 16.
Looney was a Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman selection averaging 11.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in his lone season with UCLA. He turned professional after the year and was drafted by the Warriors.
UCLA failed to make the men's tournament this year after three straight appearances.
Invisalign Partnership
Kevon Looney, #5 of the Golden State Warriors, warms up before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 30, 2024 at Chase Center in San Francisco. (Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Looney has joined a new team in the 2023-24 season, at least off the field. He teamed up with Invisalign to give himself a little boost of confidence throughout his day.
“It's something I've always wanted to try. I always want to improve my smile. I'm a guy with a big smile and I wanted to improve that and build my confidence a little bit,” he told Fox NewsDigital. “I joined the team this year and it was a great experience.”
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Looney said he wanted to keep some space between his teeth, which is why he opted to go the Invisalign route instead of braces.
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