The four years of Jonathan Kuminga’s Golden State Warriors tenure have been filled with ups and downs.
Since being drafted in 2021, the young forward has flashed All-Star potential through his dazzling athleticism and defensive versatility. If you catch a Warriors game on a Monday night, Kuminga could look like the team’s best player.
The problem for the Warriors? On any given night, they didn’t know what version of him they would get.
Kuminga’s Development
Kuminga came into this season averaging 16.1 points per game from the year prior— his career high. Expectations remained heading into this season, despite the departure of Klay Thompson. The presuming thought was that this would be Kuminga’s breakout year, as is often the trend for lottery picks entering their third or fourth season.
That looked to be the case up until injuries and midseason trades forced him back on the sidelines.
When Kuminga returned from his ankle sprain, Jimmy Butler had already made himself right at home in Kuminga’s starting spot. Kuminga was, once again, relegated to the bench. Kerr’s urge to pull him after missed defensive rotations or ill-timed turnovers hadn’t dissipated either. The new shakeup to the lineup meant that if Kuminga could not thrive on the court with Curry, he needed to with Butler.
The most startling problem for the Warriors was the clunky fit during Butler and Kuminga’s minutes together. With neither of them being floor stretchers and Kuminga often occupying the same spots as Butler, Kuminga’s minutes took another hit. The excitement surrounding the idea of them playing together was quickly subdued.
Comments on Kuminga
Despite the highs and lows of Jonathan Kuminga’s career, ownership still appears high on him.
He was spotted at the Golden State Valkyries’ season opener with Joe Lacob, majority owner of the Golden State Warriors. The two even shared what many thought was an overly amicable moment on the jumbotron, given that Kuminga’s uncertain future is in the hands of Lacob.
Lacob, however, downplayed the significance of that moment on an episode of Tim Kawakami’s “The TK Show.”
“People can interpret it however they want,” he laughed. “I happen to be friends with a lot of players and I love JK (Jonathan Kuminga). I think he’s a great guy…They’ll just have to wait and see.” (16:55)
He continued to play coy when asked what it would mean if the Warriors did lose Kuminga.
“You get close to all your players, so that it would be difficult. But this is a business,” Lacob said. (17:30)
“It would take a lot for us not to match (other offers), but we have to look at what makes our team best.” (18:15)
Factors to Consider
Jonathan Kuminga is a restricted free agent, so the Warriors can match any offer he receives if they choose. The Warriors must be committed to doing three things if they decide to retain him:
- Steve Kerr must adjust his lineups to best maximize his talent and help him improve his shot selection. Ensure he is surrounded by spacing for efficient play with Curry/Butler.
- Give Kuminga more freedom in his minutes without pulling him after every mistake- if that is something Kerr can live with.
- Continue to develop him into the Warriors’ system. If they believe Butler is his archetype, the Warriors must decide if they think he is developing into that.
Kuminga Decision
If the Warriors are not only willing to follow these, but also see a world where this is conducive to team success, it will be easier for them to retain him. In their series against the Timberwolves, he looked like the only player who could stay in front of Anthony Edwards. At just 22 years old, Kuminga’s best days are likely still ahead of him.
It was just three years ago that Curry said he dreams of a future where Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, and James Wiseman are all thriving with the Warriors, carrying the torch of the next Dubs era. Poole and Wiseman are no longer on the team. Kuminga is the lone player still standing.
Young, athletic wings are hard to let go of, and will be even harder if Kuminga develops a consistent three-point shot. Now, it’s up to the Warriors to decide whether or not they want to be along for the next chapter of Jonathan Kuminga’s career.
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