Jonathan Kuminga has been a forgotten man in the Warriors‘ rotation for the last few months, but he was at his best in Saturday’s Game 3 loss to Minnesota, writes Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required). Kuminga was given 36 minutes off the bench — the first time he’s topped 30 minutes since December — and delivered 30 points to help keep the game close. At plus-five, he was the only Golden State player who finished the game with a positive plus-minus rating.
“JK played one of the best games of his life,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He was fantastic. You can see how necessary he is in this matchup, especially without (Stephen Curry). … I’ve just been impressed with the way he’s handled things the last couple of weeks, the way he’s stayed ready and put in the work.”
As Kroichick points out, it’s been a difficult season for Kuminga since the calendar flipped to 2025. He suffered a severe right ankle sprain on January 4 that sidelined him for about two months. The Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler in early February, so Kuminga’s role was greatly diminished once he returned. Kerr kept him on the bench for a season finale that was crucial for seeding and for a play-in victory against Memphis. He saw limited action in the first-round series against Houston, and his confidence was clearly affected by his time out of the lineup.
There were no signs of that on Saturday, as he looked like the aggressive young star in the making from early in the season. He shot 11-of-18 from the field, hit three of his four three-point attempts and threw down a dunk over Anthony Edwards. He also grabbed six rebounds, handed out three assists and hounded Edwards on defense.
“I feel like the better the player (he’s guarding), the better defense he plays,” said veteran big man Kevon Looney, who Kroichick says has been teaming with Draymond Green to serve as mentors for Kuminga.
Kuminga’s inspired performance will give the Warriors plenty to consider as he enters restricted free agency this summer. Despite his reduced role and questions about his fit alongside Butler and Green, he’s only 22 on a team that needs to develop young talent. Teammates and coaches have said he’s handled the demotion well, according to Kroichick, and he’s continued to compete hard in scrimmages involving the team’s reserves.
There’s more on the Warriors:
- With Curry sidelined by a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, Golden State is leaning more heavily on Butler than at any time since the trade, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. He played 43 minutes on Saturday, even though he aggravated a glute injury he suffered in the opening round, posting 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Butler also made the case that he and Kuminga can be a successful combination. “Like I tell everybody, me and him can thrive together,” Butler said. “I know how to space the floor. I can tell him, ‘Hey, when I have the ball, you go here and you do this.’ We talk. We listen to one another. I know that he’s going to be a huge part of us winning on Monday.”
- Curry went through a strenuous pregame workout that included medium-speed shooting and a stationary bike, Slater adds. A source tells Slater that Curry never attempted to reach full speed or cut, which are steps he’ll have to achieve before being cleared to play. A report Saturday night indicated that Curry’s best chance to return will be next Sunday’s Game 6 if the Warriors can extend the series that long.
- Timberwolves president Tim Connelly reached out to Green after a Game 2 incident in Minnesota that resulted in the ejection of a fan, tweets Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
Wolves are so happy Steph is out…
I find it funny Wolves saying they wish Curry was playing when everyone knows they are happy he is not playing. Any can’t say he beat Curry when he is not in the playoffs.
arc- Very wrong. The Wolves play down to their competition and have for the last 3 seasons. 5 minutes of research proves this. I absolutely wish Steph was playing.
the goal is win a championship and nothing more. All teams play down to their competitition at some time. Neither warriors or T-wolves will get past Nuggets or OKC they are both playing excellent basketball.
Yeah, well the Wolves do it neatly every game. I put zero stock in their performance and doubt it transfers to the following series. It never does with them. They’re trying to coast.
Wolves have never beaten Denver in a playoff series, right?
Wolves has never beaten the warriors in a playoff series so past means nothing.
So they can get crushed the next round.
Salty. Guess you’re tasting the inevitable series loss already, Giants.
I think anyone gets salty down 2-1 and our best player injured. Happens to the best of us, me included.
If the wolves move on, I think they can challenge either the Nuggets or thunder. They have a well constructed roster and have a good coaching. If they’re three pointers fall, they can win, if not, they’ll get crushed as giant 74 says.
Agreed 100% with all of that. Any team needs the 3 to fall to beat either of those opponents in a 7 game series. Regular season h2h is meaningless, but the Wolves had the Nuggets number this season.
I guess you didn’t notice the score. Didn’t the T-wolves blow out the Warriors. The Warriors don’t have to make huge adjustments to win game #4.
I did notice the score and I noticed the Warriors hung tight the entire game. The wolves are beatable in THIS series.
Yeah, I noticed the score. It took about 6 egregious flops called by Scott Foster’s crew and 10 points off those “turnovers” to make it slightly close. Two of Draymond’s flops were hilarious, you could even see him giving DDV a hard time about it. The Podz flop was pathetic. No clue how it was whistled.
Wolves coasted until they needed to put it in overdrive. Probably will continue that way. Means nothing and doesn’t translate to future performance against a different opponent.
maybe you missed the warriors were turning it over way too many times. Many of them were non-contested TO which is worse. Foster missed a lot of holds and push offs by wolves so i wouldn’t be blaming the Refs. Finch cried to the press in game 1 now Gobeert is being protected on his over the back fouls. Even the announcers were saying they didn’t see a foul when a wolves player went to the line. You should be more concerned the wolves struggled against the warriors to win by 5. OKC and Nuggets are better than the warriors.
Once again, it means nothing that the Nuggets and Thunder are better than the Wolves. Also, Legler commented multiple times about fouls so you’re kinda creating your own narrative here.
We could go back and forth on missed opportunities, self-inflicted struggles, etc. Both teams had them. My point is this score has zero effect on the next game or the next series. Survive and advance. Wolves match up better with the Nuggets than the Warriors. That was shown last postseason.
Edwards said that Kuminga dunk on him was what got him going, so thanks for helping the Wolves win.
Green fouling out got him going.
Give me a break, Green fouled out with like 5 minutes left. It’s always excuses from Warriors fans.
He also sat a large amount of 3rd on the bench with 4 fouls.
And? That’s part of the game. He shouldn’t foul if he doesn’t want to sit out. Unfortunately, he flails about so consistently that he commits legitimate fouls and has to sit. He should have fouled out earlier in the game, but Foster’s crew didn’t whistle him correctly until late.
the Refs were not calling a lot of holding on both sided. Gobert should have fouled out too. He was pushing and shoving. Like Kuminga’s dunk he was pushing off on Kuminga. They also need to start calling the holds.
If they start calling the holds maybe Podz will foul out next game and Dray will see the showers by the 3rd like he deserved lol
We know Gobert and Reid will never make it into the 2nd hlaf because they are foul machines. Conley who holds a lot sits on the bench most of the game.
Just sounds like a bunch of whining to me.
You were the one that stareted the whinning. If you want light fouls called they will get called on t-wolves too.
The Warriors being a key man down gave the opportunity to get Jonathan Kuminga going. With that confidence we might actually have a competitive game 4?
Gary, I think it’ll be competitive. And we don’t need 63 pts from Jimmy and JK if the other guys do better than their horrendous performances from last game:
Podz: 39 mins, 5 pts
GP2: 26 mins, 2 pts
Draymond: 29 mins, 2 pts
Podski has been nowhere to be found for two weeks. He was shooting so well from Jimmy to the end of the year then I don’t know what happened.
You know what is funny about that. Kerr didn’t want the Warriors to draft Edwards because he had a lackadaisical workout. He said, “Is that all you got”. Kerr turned Edwards into a star. And Ant is still having trouble getting motivated.
Steve Kerr has nothing to do with Edwards development. Just more insufferable commentary from Warriors fans and their inflated sense of self importance.
The inability to understand how obscene it is to publicly make the statement “your guy is only a superstar because our coach made one comment” is one of several reasons people are constantly reminded that most of you exist in a strange bubble and the circlejerk has gone on so long you think that’s actually how life in the NBA functions. I feel bad for Steph, he created you but he also deserves better.
This is not Warriors fan arrogance, it is fact. Edwards was quoted recently saying just that. That his predraft workout with the Warriors was eye opening and changed him for the better because Kerr kept telling him he wasn’t working hard enough. link to sports.yahoo.com
“changed him for the better” and “turned him into a star” have slightly different vibes.
WTF does any of this have to do with anything.
You can’t be that uninformed.
Anthony Edwards was the FIRST pick in the draft. Kerr your DA and everyones genius friend or genius take. Have got nothing to do with it.
Why the need for this is beyond basketball
Warriors blew it with Wiseman and you got knowledge about a pick they never had.
You listening Gary !!!!! This is who U R
I guess Al never heard of Michael Owlakandi? Get back to me when you look him up.
Oh, I remember him. Clippers picked him number one overall from a tiny school in California.
Never amounted to anything.
But I guess according to some it’s the organization‘s fault for not developing him.
They can’t see how off base that Mindset really is. Many times it’s just about drafting a crappy player. Nothing more nothing less.
I’d rather be in a “strange bubble” with 4 championship rings then a fan of your team with ZERO championship rings and the one thing in my hip pocket is that I know “how life in the NBA functions.”
You know that San Francisco has been a “strange bubble” since the 60s don’t you? I thought everyone knew that?
And your comment about Steph is inaccurate. He’s in our bubble, he is us.
He even cried in the locker room after his injury because him being out hurts us. He cried for us.
You don’t have a group where you can feel like you belong? Are you an outsider? A loner? You should get with a group, it’s healthy.
I’m a Pistons fan my guy. I’ve already had a documentary made about both my eras of championships. You know, full team type of execution.
Oh, OK. Their future is bright. Can’t wait to see the Pistons next year with a year of growth under them. They have a good roster and I certainly hope Thompson can get healthy and stay healthy and develop as expected.
Not sure why you come over here and totally bash the Warriors and their fans so often?
I try to be levelheaded, but I do snap back sometimes when people disparage us warrior fans.
Because statements like “Steph is us” provide a window into an unhealthy parasocial mindset that enable you to have beliefs outside of normal life and frankly reality. It’s a rough road when you start to realize the Sun doesn’t revolve around the Bay Area, even in basketball. Most people start to realize this as children, Steph is responsible for stunting your growth as a fan base in this area, despite him not being stunted himself.
We all need outlets, my guy. I choose basketball and live in a fantasy world while there perhaps.
All good with me as I’ve tried the other social crutches. It’s those alternatives that attempted to destroy my life.
I can’t speak for others here, but Basketball has worked out so far. Are there delusional Warriors fans on this website? You bet, they’re everywhere, every team.
I’ll respectfully disagree with your assessment above and carry on my merry way.
@Druuu Yikes. The armchair psychoanalysis is way overboard here. As is your assumption that it is your responsibility or right to judge the belief systems or psychosocial development of a fanbase. Keep the therapy in its proper frame, please. It is wildly inappropriate without consent.
Trying to use use lack of “consent” in a situation where you’ve typed in your email, password and then publicly stated your opinion in a multi-response conversation is textbook gaslighting with an equivalence level to Draymond’s pathetic “angry black man” excuse.
If you don’t want a response, don’t post. It’s HoopsRumors.com not DaveyJ’sMuteRumors.com
If reading comprehension was a thing for you, then you would see that the consent comment wasn’t about public message board replies to posts, but specifically your pseudo-intellectual pearl clutching about the stunted growth and parasocial experiences of Warriors fans.
But go ahead and do your logical fallacy thing.
Oh, give it a rest, xtraflamy. This is a very telling comment.
Wow. Sounds like you have issues not related to basketball and taking them out here. Do you really believe that players can become stars with out dedication to making themselves better? Edwards said that motivation came from Kerr’s comments.
Edwards said that Kuminga’s dunk got him going, also known as motivation.
So, I don’t know what you are griping.
Sounding like a FankenStein to me … San Francisco hasn’t even embraced Warriors till they won. Just like most of your fans. Took a city like Oakland to put them on the map.
Seriously Al. I grew up in the East Bay. I know more about Oakland then you will ever know. Don’t pretend.
It’s all the Bay Area AL. What are you even going on about?
There’s People who live in the East Bay and work in San Francisco all day long. Do they count as San Franciscans or Oakland dwellers?
What about those in San Jose who travel to the city for work? It’s all the Bay Area. I really don’t know why you’re so abrasive AL?
Shows how little Druuu follows the NBA. Edwards came in for a work out before the draft and didn’t give it 100%. Durring dinner after the workout Kerr told him he ws disappoointed in the effort level and you need to give it 100%. Edwards said it made him realize that he needs to be in top shape and give it his all every time out. If he wanted to be a NBA player he needs to put forth more effort and he did that.
That’s moving the goalposts, though. Giants said “Kerr turned him into a star.” That’s BS and Ant DID NOT say as much. He did, however, say what you said, and that wqs that he realized he needed to put forth more effort. The Wolves also told him that. And from time to time, he still needs that reminder. So it seems like he was going to be a star, regardless, and he hasn’t fully fixed that issue.
Other players motivate other players. Edwards wanted to improve his 3 pt shooting so he worked at it every day by challenging Curry to 3 pt contest during theor Olympic time. Donte did the same when he ws with GS by seeking out Curry and learn from the best. Ant was always going to be a star he just needed to learn to focus on improving. there is many NBA players with lots of talent but don’t have the drive to improve and becoming better.
Everyone knew that before the draft clown. It’s the reason why many thought he wouldn’t go #1. To this day he is looked at that way. Does he really want to be the Goat. Edwards doesn’t have Currys or Brons commitment. We are all still waiting for that. You act like you know ball. All you do is phrase it to make your take work. Some of us here are ballers. And only care about the truth of the game. Cause we love and respect it. Defending yourself and your team is a weak stance. No team in sports history is beyond criticism. And sometimes do deserve to be belittled. Even by their own fans. Only wagoneers don’t get that.
Now here is a guy who gets it. I thought I was all alone Druuu. You are right on lol.
Giants74 said
> Kerr turned Edwards into a star
You really do have a Steve Kerr fetish, don’t you?
Kerr developed Ant….just wow.
Look up Michael Owlakandi.
Thank you Coach Kerr for always being classy with a young player like Kuminga. Thank you for not giving up on him !!
It is not surprising to anyone who follows the Warriors that Butler says he and JK can play on the floor together. I know some people will want to start banging their sippy cups from their high chair and whine about Kerr. It gets tiresome. Last season, Kerr played Wiggins and JK on the floor together. It was a disaster. When Draymond came back from suspension (ugh) and Green at the 5, he tried it again. The Warriors had their best stretch in a couple of seasons. Then JK started to pull a Jordan Poole with the money thing. I still don’t understand why they didn’t go RFA with him. Of course, he struggled. The FO had to make a move because Curry was getting crushed and had no help. I guess JK has gotten smart and started to listen to Dray and Butler about what he needs to do on the floor. Size and athleticism will only get you so far. You have to be smart to be a star.
Giants74 said.
> Last season, Kerr played Wiggins and JK on the floor
> together. It was a disaster.
That’s false (as you know, because you’ve been corrected before). The lineup of Wiggins, Kuminga, Draymond, Curry, and Podziemski was not only the Warriors best last season, but the 2nd best in the NBA last year of any with over 400 possessions.
There is no reasonable interpretation of last year’s data that says Kuminga didn’t pair well with Wiggins, Steph, nor Wiggins.
The Warriors had the 2nd best record in the NBA (after Boston) after Kerr made his dramatic changes to the starting lineup and rotation. The biggest reason for that was the dramatic increase in minutes for JK and Podz.
You know JK . Thats funny. Still crying about Kuminga and blaming him. I thought you were a grown adult …
Sounds like have you have fallen into Ari’s trap of not being able to read. He completely ignored the part about where I said that the combination of Wiggins/Draymond/Kuminga was the best basketball the Warriors played in two years. Without Draymond, they struggled. JK has gone back to working with Draymond, and it showed up last night. Don’t know what else you want?
Giants74, it’s this simple:
I quoted your statement that JK and Wiggins didn’t play well together. Then I described why you were incorrect.
Hoopsrumorswarriors.com?
Money talks. Just kidding, but I think there’s a lot of interest in all things Warriors as opposed to the grizzlies or the pelicans or the Jazz.
The Warriors are in the news. They have a star player. They’re in the playoffs right now and there’s a lot of drama lol.
Click on some of the other articles and there’s zero activity.
Click on a warrior article and you’ll get 30 to 80 comments quite often.
It’s wild how popular the Warriors sections are to everyone else. Almost like GSW and Curry still run the league despite underperforming due to Kerr’s bad decisions the last 3 years, or something.
OR
I am the poster everyone flocks to, and therefore I deserve some of that sweet, sweet ad revenue click nectar, or something.
Pick one!
(I’m joking)
Again, it’s Kerr’s job to make Kuminga/Jimmy/Draymond work together. He straight up is obsessed with 3 guard lineups so much that he ignored Kuminga still averaged 15.3 PPG this year. When your offense dies and you are benching 15.3 PPG, you are bad at your job.
Davey J actually got some wisdom. Can’t believe I just said that. @GaryRedSoxxWarriors ….
Even the FanKenstein gets it ….. playoffs are not the time to cry about development of players. Or their RFA status. Unfortunately thats what a lot of you do. Kuminga might be your guy or not. If you are a Warrior fan. You should only be interested in him playing well. Nothing else ……
JK had a solid game. And proved he can play with Jimmy. Anyone who knows ball. Can see he still has a ways to go. But why in the world would you care about that now. Warriors are going home without JK playing. And then you will have plenty of time to cry about him …….
And Gary …. don’t worry lol. His performance in the playoffs will make it easy to trade him.
Jonathan Kuminga had an amazing game three. Wouldn’t have been that close without him. I sure hope he can perform like that or even better in game 4. The Warriors will need it.
I love his pro move of dribble drive to the basket and pull up 12 to 15 footer.
That mid range is such a weapon that guys don’t perfect today and it looks like he’s been working on it. Pascal Siakam has made millions with the foul line or mid range jumpshot.
Gary, a settlement of fact and sincere question:
Fact: you are the most expert, objective, informed fact-based player evaluator this site has ever known.
Question: are you considering revising your recent assessment of Jonathan Kuminga from “he sucks”?
JK had a fantastic game three. He put points on the board and they were much needed.
But I still have to ask myself, and this is just me.., I’m not saying you’re wrong, but what does he do? What does he excel at? Why do you have him on the floor?
Is it his scoring and what kind of scoring does he provide? Is it his defense and who does he guard? Guys on the wing, three point shooters? Power forwards?
How does he affect the game? Is he doing the little things a guy like Jimmy Butler does? Does he rebound? Does he facilitate for others and make them better?
These are all things I ask myself when looking at a player, especially if nothing sticks out as an area in which he excels. (Oh sorry, I forgot.., he can jump.)
Gary Payton defense hustle rebound taps to teammates.
Buddy Hield can get hot shooting the three ball gives it 100% out there.
Quentin post three ball.
Kevon Looney, offensive rebounding, and all the intangibles for the last 10 years.
What does Jonathan Kuminga do out there?
Gary, I expected nothing less than this probing and nuanced analysis.
To your question,
> “What does Jonathan Kuminga do out there?”
…I have my own impressions, but I reached out to you because I can’t reconcile them at the moment with “he sucks”. As you say, playoff games are the best barometer. Does his play in the last two games “suck”?
Yesterday:
30 pts in 36 mins, 11-18, 3-4 from 3
Best +/- on teammates
Previous game:
18 pts in 24 mins, 8-11, 1-3 from 3
Beat +/- after Butler and Draymond
Jonathan Kuminga has had two fantastic, efficient games. Let’s hope he keeps it up. He definitely has not sucked.
So with my latest comments in mind, here’s the answers I would provide.
Jonathan Kuminga has done a better job defending small forwards.
Jonathan Kuminga has worked on his three-point shot and can make the sideline or short 17 extended three ball.
As I’ve mentioned a couple times I really love his dribble drive pull up mid range jumpshot. That is a real weapon in the NBA.
He should utilize that the rest of his career. Most guys prevent the dribble drive all the way to the basket for a layup so that pull up mid range is almost unguardable for a guy like JK. He doesn’t have 611 size (Siakam) but he has jumping ability to separate himself from a very good defender.
I think Jonathan Kuminga gives 110% effort on the floor. He doesn’t take plays off as he may have done as a first or second year guy. He takes his job seriously today.
That’s about it from my end Ari. Anything else you provide is welcome and appreciated and as I said, you’re not wrong with your opinions.
This is just my analysis. He’s going into year five next year and it’s either pay him 30 million per season or let him go.
My vote is, and always has been, let him go.
Sign and trade whatever. Buh-bye now, good luck to you.
What wisdom? He hates Kerr so much, for some unknown reason, that he completely ignores what Curry said. But, then again, all he likes is Curry’s rings.