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OAKLAND — Jordan Bell was asked what a young player can learn from a teammate like Kevon Looney.
Bell paused, then said, “I’m older than Kevon.”
Maybe it’s that Looney, in his fourth season with the Warriors but still just 23 years old, has always seemed like an old soul.
Bell, in just his second season, is a year older. And he is growing up right before our eyes over the past week.
Together, the two young forwards contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds to the Warriors’ 114-111 victory over Portland on Thursday, giving them a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference finals.
Coach Steve Kerr was thrilled with the performances of both players. He said Looney, with 14 points on 6-for-6 shooting, seven rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block, was “brilliant.” Looney gave Golden State the lead for good with 53 seconds left by dunking a high lob from Draymond Green.
Bell had a playoff career-high 11 points to go with three rebounds, two steals and a block in nearly 14 minutes on the floor. It was a third straight game of meaningful playing time for Bell, dating back to last Friday’s close-out victory over the Rockets in Houston.
“It’s a good series for him. It’s a good matchup,” Kerr said. “The way we’re playing suits him. We need a lot of speed out there. He’s kind of settled down and he’s been very comfortable.
“He’s playing good basketball, so he will continue to get minutes.”
Bell’s minutes and his production both dipped this season after an encouraging rookie campaign, but he’s giving the Warriors what they need right now.
“Jordan did a really good job for us tonight with his energy,” veteran Andre Igoudala said. “He thrives off the spotlight. He enjoys being in those moments and people watching him. And he takes advantage of that.”
Bell said playing time in the postseason is feeding his confidence.
“I’ve made a big jump. When you work hard, you want to show it off.” he said. “I kind of pulled myself back and understand the kind of player I am and how I can get on the floor and how I can be successful in this league.”
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Green said Bell’s biggest leap has been the mental aspect of the game. “He’s gotten more intelligent . . . his professionalism,” Green said. “He’s staying ready, being in the gym nonstop. That’s what’s paying off for him now.”
Back to the original question, Bell acknowledged there are things he can learn from Looney, despite the fact that “obviously, I’m more athletic” than he is.
“The main thing I’ve learned from him is his patience and his positioning on defense,” Bell said. “He does a great job of staying on people, just being in the right position.”
Looney certainly achieved that at the offensive end on Thursday. He found his way to the rim, where he batted 1.000, converting all six of his shot attempts. Five of them were dunks or layups, three of those off alley-oop passes from Green.
“Those are drills we do in practice every day, so I’ve been prepared for it. Not an accident,” Looney said. “If I miss those, Draymond will be on me. But I know he’s got the ultimate trust in me and confidence in me.”
Scoring is not in Looney’s primary job description, although he has averaged 9.8 points the past four games. He unleashed his less showy skills to help trigger a 13-0 run that got the Warriors back in the game after they trailed the Blazers 69-53 early in the third quarter.
In the span of less than two minutes, Looney had a steal that led to a Steph Curry jumper, a blocked shot, a defensive rebound and an offensive rebound that two passes later became a layup by Green that closed the gap to 69-66.
“My job is to go out there and bring energy and get all the loose balls, the 50-50 balls and make plays,” Looney said. “I feel like I missed a couple plays in the first half so I wanted to bring my energy in the second half. I feel I did that.”
Looney saw his first two seasons limited by hip injuries, but he has won over all of his teammates with his work ethic and improvement.
“I dreamed about playing in these games and making a contribution,” he said. “The last few years I’ve been able to help and my role’s getting bigger every year. I’ve got a lot more confidence in myself and I feel good.”
Iguodala, who knows about such things, said Looney always had had a high basketball IQ. But he appreciates his teammate’s humble approach to learning his craft.
“He’s one of those guys who takes constructive criticism really well. He understands there’s always room for improvement and no matter where you are on this team you can make an impact,” Iguodala said.
“He’s still only 23 years old, which is crazy. He’s going to have a very long career.”
