After suggesting before the season that Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green were the only three Warriors players assured of starting every night, head coach Steve Kerr is adding a fourth name to that list, writes Anthony Slater of ESPN.
Kerr said prior to Tuesday’s win over the Clippers that Jonathan Kuminga has secured his spot as a full-time member of the starting five and will be tasked with defending the opponent’s best perimeter scorer to open the game.
“He’ll be our starter going forward,” Kerr told reporters, including Slater. “He’s been fantastic. (Monday) we put him on Ja (Morant). Tonight we’ll put him on James Harden. I think he’s ready.”
As Slater observes, it’s an important development for Golden State on the heels of the contentious contract negotiations over the summer between the team and Kuminga, who sought a more prominent and more consistent role. The former seventh overall pick started 46 of his 74 games in 2023/24 but never made more than 16 starts in any other season since entering the league.
Kuminga wasn’t initially projected to open the 2025/26 season as a starter either, but Kerr reconsidered a plan to start Al Horford, determining it made more sense to bring him off the bench in order to manage his minutes. Another potential starter, Moses Moody, sustained a calf injury in training camp, setting him back and delaying his regular season debut.
That opened the door for Kuminga to claim a starting role and he has run with the opportunity, averaging 16.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 30.2 minutes per game through five games (all starts).
While the 23-year-old has been very effective offensively, posting a shooting line of .537/.438/.762, his defense and rebounding have been arguably more impressive. Kuminga averaged 4.0 RPG in his first four seasons — his 37 boards to open the season are the most he has ever recorded in a five-game stretch, according to Slater. Kerr also pointed out that Kuminga’s willingness to drive to the basket and pass the ball has helped alleviate concerns about spacing issues.
“You’ve hardly seen any of the mid-shot clock, 17-foot pullups [from Kuminga],” Kerr said. “You’re seeing him being much more purposeful, getting the ball to Jimmy, getting the ball to Steph, attacking the rim. He’s really putting a lot of pressure on people. The combination of Jimmy and Draymond and JK wasn’t great last year, but because of all the improvements JK has made, his passing, it’s just really clicking. So we’re going to stay with that.”
According to Slater, the Warriors haven’t settled on a permanent fifth starter alongside that trio. Kerr’s plan is to use either big man Quinten Post or guard Brandin Podziemski in that spot, depending on the matchup.
Well overdue and well deserved. Kuminga has lots of potential…
Yup, he should have been the starter since yr 3. Still, I commend Kerr for being “mature” and playing Kuminga.
Where are all the nay sayers and Kuminga crybabies now ????
I can’t believe Kerr is playing him major mins. Never thought I ‘d see it this soon. Not sure this will last. Is this to build him up to trade him. Or to build him up to keep him. I guess we will find out by Dec 15. It’s good to see him playing more consistently. Just keep getting better kid ……
Let a naysayer know.
Not the same Kuminga as in previous years. He has now leanred to play in the system and no more iso ball. He is passing and rebounding.
You are probably right but it doesnt mean he didnt deserve more meaningful playing time. Because it’s the only way to gey better and have confidence for a young player like Kuminga. And it’s not like he didnt have his moments. After all, he started 84 gms and Warriors offered $100-125m+ last offseason. He probably should have been a starter since year 3.
I commend Kerr and Kuminga as well as FO for working this out. It does see little odd at times because we are so used to Kerr taking him out so early and now Kuminga is the LAST player to be substituted, lol.
i see GP2 is going to be the first one out when Melton comes back. He was awful last night again. That foul on Harden 3 pt shot showed lack of control.
Kuminga had off game too, but Warriors won and he made that one nice assist to Curry. 4 good gms and 1 off gm thus far for Kuminga. We’ll take it. Cant wait til Melton to get healthy.
@Michol Kuminga was +9, what was “off” about his game?
GP2 needs to be released he is so awful at this stage in his career. Seth is better.
Who has they gonna start? their bench is trash
spoken out of true ignorance
No true ignorance would be saying I’m wrong, but can’t provide an actual reason for how I’m wrong. Try again
If the “starters” are Butler, Curry, Kuminga, Green
Then the “bench” is Moody, Hield, Podziemski, Horford, Post, Melton, Richard and TJD. Far from “trash”. If you want to see a trash bench, look at either LA team’s bench.
and Seth Curry in November
All those dudes are trash.amd a starting lineup is 5 players. And mentioning Kuminga proves my point
You’re not worth the effort. see Davey
Because you know you’d lose
With a team riddled with 35+ year olds they better be placing younger people in the starting lineup as these geezers will need their legs well rested by early spring if they want to go deeper in playoffs.
It is a bit surprising and odd for Kerr to announce this publicly so early in the season when there is Moody, Podz, Holford/Post. Kuminga should be a permanent starter but still odd. Kuminga plays much better as a starter and he has the biggest upside potential.
It’a nice to see him do little things but the game is beginning to SLOW down for him. He’s beginning to see thimgs on the floor and making plays. Thank goodness for Butler and Curry mentoship, and maybe Curry injury was a blessing in disguise. Kuminga has postseason experience to build and lean on. Keep making those free thows!
Kuminga locked down both Ja Morant and James Harden on back to back nights.
Moody being the true 3 and D guy we haven’t had since Klay.
Post absolutely destroying Zubac with a +34 12 points 8 REB.
Almost like all the criticisms of those 3 over the last 6 months are entirely worthless, or something!
Horford’s good for 18-22 min’s and stretches the floor, why Kerr can’t figure that out is why he doesn’t have a contract extension. Failing to reach the WCF could merit his exit.