LOS ANGELES — It's no exaggeration that Golden State WarriorsThe offseason literally revolved around Jonathan Kuminga. So much so that the organization didn't even have enough players on the active roster to make a five-on-five fight until they figured out what direction they wanted to go with Kuminga.
Of course, the Warriors had commitments from veterans like Al Horford, Gary Payton II And De'Anthony Melton lined up, but it didn't matter. Golden State couldn't move forward without figuring out what to do with its 23-year-old restricted free agent forward. After the dust settled, Golden State was the last team in the association to add a rookie either through free agency or the trade market.
We await a decision on Kuminga's future just weeks before their season opener on Tuesday against Los Angeles Lakers certainly posed a risk. Still, the Warriors' sentiment—and the almost effortless decision to bring Kuminga back and throw the can out of the way—appears to be the right one. Kuminga finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 33 minutes against the Warriors. victory with a score of 119-109 over the Lakers and showed why the best version of Golden State revolves around him being at his best.
“He's really matured,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We had some really good conversations. He has a better understanding… I think he just has a better understanding of what's needed now compared to years past. I think Jimmy (Butler) really helped him too.”
Part of why Kuminga is still the most unknown player on this roster is that there are moments – like Tuesday's – that prove he should be a crucial cog in the long-term plan. But at the same time, the reason there were question marks (and why he signed a two-year, $48 million deal to come back) is because he has had confusing periods in his career that could lead to an inevitable divorce down the road.
Kuminga wants to be introduced. That's why the field from Sacramento Kings – who were reportedly interested in him this summer – could lure him to camp. If Kuminga were traded this summer, he could become a full-time starter at low stakes. Obviously, that didn't happen, but the Warriors could still hypothetically trade him starting on January 15th.
Currently, Kuminga is a Warrior. And they both need this partnership to work – however long it lasts – to achieve a fifth title for this core. Kuminga is arguably the biggest X-Factor on the team, outside of the obvious “Big Three” Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler And Draymond Greensimply because of his unique combination of size and athleticism.
Kuminga didn't shoot well in the first half of the first half, but he added value by creating second chances and disrupting the defensive line. He also had his toughest task on the floor, having to face Lakers star Luka Doncic for long stretches.
“He had a hard time finding time on our team,” Kerr said. “I’m really proud of him for continuing to do this and really maturing. It's a great start for him and a great start for us.”
Kuminga has shown what he is capable of in high-stakes environments such as last season's playoffs against Minnesota Timberwolveswhere he played 27.4 minutes and averaged 20.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the five-game series. But before that, he received a DNP at the finish line of the regular season. A hamstring injury Curry suffered in the playoffs against Minnesota forced Kuminga to play a more prominent role, which he took advantage of, leaving more questions than answers.
Why can't Kuminga be like this on a more consistent basis? This is literally a multi-million dollar question.
The reality of the way the Warriors have built their roster is that there will be games where Curry, Butler, Green and Horford need rest. Kerr already said this month that Horford will not play back-to-back games this season, and with Golden State playing 15 straight games, there could be plenty of opportunities for Kuminga to excel in an important role.
Kuminga remains the biggest mystery on the Warriors roster. In fact, a performance like Tuesday's calls into question how he fell out of Golden State's rotation in the first place.
At the same time, he needs to be at his best to justify the chaos Golden State has endured this offseason. If this was a preview of what this season could be, the Warriors will be vindicated in the long game because Kuminga appears to have bought into the vision of what the franchise hopes to achieve.
“When you ask for an opportunity, you have to give it,” Green said after Tuesday’s win. “I think he was very vocal about his opportunity and he delivered. When you see a guy who's willing to put his neck on the line and make a big statement, and he does, you have to reward him.”
