Prior to the Warriors‘ Friday game against the Pistons, The Athletic reported Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga had lost faith in head coach Steve Kerr due to the latter’s decision to bench the third-year forward for the final 17:48 against the Nuggets on Thursday. Kerr responded to Kuminga’s reported frustration before Golden State’s Friday victory, according to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.
“I’ve got to get him out there for longer, but these are really difficult decisions,” Kerr said. “Because it’s not just as simple as how many minutes a guy plays. It’s who’s playing, what’s the combination, what’s happening in the game.”
According to Andrews, Kuminga and Kerr met in the 20 hours between Golden State’s back-to-back games to address the 21-year-old’s frustration.
“I think it went really well,” Kuminga said. “I think it was just all about better understanding of each other. More communication. We don’t really get to sit together as much and communicate about pretty much non-basketball things, basketball things. We don’t get to do that as much. Just us having that conversation today made me more comfortable that any time I have something to ask, I should just go up to his office. His door is open. Go up there and chill and wait for him to come back whenever. I think that’s what it’s all about, communication every single time if something is going wrong. Communication is the key.”
Kuminga wound up playing a season-high 36 minutes against the Pistons and didn’t come off the floor for the entire fourth quarter. He finished the game, his 12th consecutive start, with 11 points and six rebounds. However, The Athletic’s Anthony Slater observes Kuminga has yet to post back-to-back games with 30 or more minutes this season, so it will be interesting to monitor the trend moving forward.
“I never complained about playing time [during the meeting],” Kuminga said. “We were just talking about if I do great at something, just go back and remind him, ‘Yo, coach, what do I need to do to get better at this? What do I need to do to gain more trust or more minutes?’ Like I said, it’s more about communication and better understanding from both of us.”
Kuminga emphasized the fact the conversation was centered around gaining a “better understanding” of things, including what Kerr expects of him.
“It’s a difficult situation because every player naturally has his own goals, his own dreams,” Kerr said. “Everybody wants to flourish. Everybody wants to blossom. … I have very difficult decisions to make each and every night. JK is a young player who is growing. He’s getting better. It’s why he’s in the starting lineup.”
Kerr wasn’t the only person to speak with Kuminga before Golden State’s Friday matchup, according to Slater, who writes that Stephen Curry met with the 6’8″ forward too.
“He’s not wrong for being upset and pissed off, wanting to play,” Curry said. “Probably should’ve played. Not probably. … But the ultimate challenge for anybody in this league is to not let the narrative be told for you and you not be able to address that with your own voice or directly with Coach or whatever the case is. … There are ways to express it, ways to voice your opinion but protect the team. I’m just proud of the way he — we talked about it before the game. Go out and play. Go hoop. Be a professional. And that’s what he did.”
Slater writes a big source of the problem is the Warriors’ inability to fit Kuminga and forward Andrew Wiggins together on the floor. Kerr says he doesn’t play the two together because of their similar skill sets. Kuminga made it clear he doesn’t want it to seem like the two are fighting for minutes and is trying to make sure the pair can coexist and remain crucial parts of the team, Andrews writes.
“I love it here,” Kuminga said. “I got drafted here. There’s always ups and downs. I feel like when you look at all the ups and downs, that will confuse a lot of people. But I know Steve believes in me. I know he trusts me at this point. It was just more about communication and better understanding. It wasn’t no beef. None of that. Scratch whatever happens. It’s the past. Move on with better understanding and hoping we all can work with each other and help this team and leave everything in the past.“
Yeah he will be traded before the deadline
I hope not.
Kuminga, Wiggins, Moody and a first for Siakam.
No thanks. Warriors are not 1 player away from a championship so why trade your young assets for a play in spot.
If Siakam was any good Raptors would just resign him and build around him. The fact that they’re trying so hard to move him comes off as desperate, frankly.
Have to wonder now if Masai was good or just lucky.
@uno Lol any stupid takes you want to throw out there?
Yeah. Raptors are now just the Knicks from 2 years ago, with a better top player (barnes) but a worse coach. Siakam is Randle — a disgruntled PF everyone wants to get rid of.
They have a whiff of an identity but will ultimately have no meaningful postseason success.
Have to wonder if you can have an unbiased opinion over your freedom of commenting is governed by the wishes of someone else.
Yes I am being controlled by Adam Silver
Always knew you were a puppet.
An opinion of an opinion never gets old. Instead of being salty can I just remind you that the timeline and age of Siakam in his prime doesn’t mesh well with Barnes. Why wouldn’t you move an asset and possibly resign him in the Summer. This screams intelligence not ignorance. We don’t want Vanfleet situation again.
@ Pantherseye87:
Warriors need a 7 footer that can play effectively against AD and Nurkic. They don’t need a 6’9 pf.
Good luck finding one who can actually play in the Warriors system.
I agree they generally aren’t available, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a gaping hole on the team.
If they could get Valanciunas or Vucevic it would work. If they can’t, there’s no reason to trade youth for Siakam.
Bro warriors needed a seven footer 4 years now. Remember those “they should trade for Miles Turner” rumblings??? Ayton possibility trade talk? Valencunas talk? If they wanted a center they would have got one when they traded Wiseman. They DO NOT want a center.
The sad truth and hole in their lineup.
Terrible trade for Warriors.
Kuminga will be a star if they just let him play more. He creates for others by being the only slasher on a team of shooters.
Warriors have done a poor job of developing young players. Kuminga, Moody, Wiseman, and Poole. I guess Poole sort of worked out since they won a title, but he disnt play much first 2 yrs. People also forget that Wiseman actually showed some promise in his rookie yr. It’a very tough for young players to develop when they dont play.
Kerr loves the veterans. I hope they don’t make any moves and let the players play. There is nobody out there will make them a top 4 team so why not go with what you have.
They all would be better today if they had played more last yr. It’s a shame that they dont have much to show for all their draft picks. Now, they cant afford to make any mistakes. They might have to go total rebuild. :(
They should get rid of Wiggins
Good move by Kerr to meet with him and then play him a team high 36 minutes (rounded up).
Can’t play Wiggins and Kuminga because of similar play? Didn’t stop him from playing Curry and Poole together? Kerr had a run but I think the time might be coming for a different voice. They may not be a championship caliber team but they have the talent to be much better than they are.
Curry can play with anybody, with his style of play he makes anyone better. Wiggins and Kuminga have a horrible +/- when they share the court. Wiggins not so much this season but they’re both wings that can slash and normally shoot a little. They like to play in the same spots and get to the same spots offensively, it causes clutter in the half court.
I think it’s too early to write the Warriors off. If Wiggins turns a corner and returns to form I think they got a shot, a small one but a shot. Curry surrounded by good shooters and spacing has it in him to lead a championship team.
If I’m wrong or the Warriors brass decides this is it what about Curry? As I said before he can still be an important piece on a championship team. Would the Warriors trade him with the intent of getting draft picks and good young players to kick start a rebuild and give him a chance to win one or two more championships somewhere else? Would he want to stay through the transition and retire for the only team he’s ever played for or would he have an itch to see if he could win more championships.
In my mind he’s already a top 10 player in league history. Which would mean more to his legacy, to retire a Warrior or a champion?
Making the playoffs is one thing but a championship looks impossible at this point since they are 1-8 against the top 3 teams in the west. 16-10 against rest of the league. Doesn’t look good after the play in for the warriors
Kuminga is backing up Wiggins. He should be. What’s wrong with that. Handle it.
That’s funny . Good one !
This wouldn’t be an issue if Klay and Wiggins were playing like they should be, CP wasn’t hurt (as usual) and if Dray wasn’t a head case. But since they aren’t, Kerr’s “combinations” aren’t working like they used to, especially in the last few minutes of a game with a lead when the star players not named Curry can’t make a shot with Curry being locked down (or making ill advised passes).