Jonathan Kuminga is expected to rejoin the rotation when the Warriors resume their schedule on Thursday in Phoenix following a three-day break, head coach Steve Kerr indicated today.
“You definitely want to see how guys respond in practice,” Kerr said. “And I can tell you, JK, has been great this last week as he’s been out of the rotation. He’s working really hard, and I’m going to reward that.”
It has been a roller coaster of a season so far for Kuminga, who played so well through his first five games as a starter that Kerr publicly declared he would remain in the lineup for the foreseeable future. However, he cooled off and was moved to the second unit a couple weeks later, then missed seven consecutive games due to knee issues.
After returning to action in late November, Kuminga appeared in four games in a row, earning another start on December 6 in Cleveland, but he made just 1-of-10 shots from the floor in that contest and has been a DNP-CD in each of Golden State’s past three games.
Kerr said on Tuesday that he’d like to stick with his current starting five of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Moses Moody, and Quinten Post for now, barring an injury, so Kuminga figures to come off the bench on Thursday.
Kuminga’s status is worth keeping a close eye on, since the former No. 7 overall pick figures to be one of the NBA’s top trade candidates at this season’s deadline. He’ll become eligible to be dealt as of January 15.
Through his first 17 games (13 starts) this season, Kuminga is averaging 12.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 25.6 minutes per night, with a .438/.320/.741 shooting line. That 43.8% shooting mark is the lowest of his career, while his 2.5 turnovers per game represent a career high by a significant margin.
To showcase him, clearly.
Yup,
If he plays well, I would be willing to put cash down on him finishing the season somewhere else.
Bucks GM Horst to W’s GM Dunleavy:
“You’re not playing Kuminga; why would we want him?”
The Bucks rejected a trade for Curry a year before they drafted Giannis. Curry was on the bench a lot.
“Because Kerr has early-onset dementia”
Kuminga is leading the team in rebounds per game, still. Why would a team not play their best rebounder? An incompetent head coach is the only answer.
So why was he out of the rotation despite being the team leader in rebounds?
Why did Kerr think Melton and Podz were going to be able to handle Randle and Gobbert?
Wow, Davey asks a question that the “greatest Warriors fan” should easily know. The Warriors offense is built around passing and looking for the open man. Kuminga started the season doing that. But, he reverted to taking bad shots and turning the ball over.
The real question is whether the W’s can make the play-in with a record just below .500
That’s where they are; that’s where they are headed…
You said they wouldn’t be a playin team last year. I assume you’ll be wrong again.
This story just keeps writing itself. Kardashians reality show of the NBA, oh wait….
I bet you are into the “Real Housewives” also.
You got sisters, a mother, daughter? I can’t even escape the Kardashians with watching the NBA.
They have better taste.
At the end of the day, Kuminga saga is demoralizing for the players, FO, Lacob and other players in the league.
Hopefully, Kerr’s heart is in the right place, trying to end Kuminga’s Warriors career in a good note, help Kuminga’s image, and not derail his career.
i also wonmder if Lacob said play Kuminga or else to kerr. Kerr wake up call that small ball doesn’t work anymore.
An owner dictating minutes. The Warriors will be a guaranteed lottery team.
If only this were true.
I mean the Kuminga saga is strictly a Steve Kerr invention. All he had to do was play him 35 MPG and GSW is over .500 right now. But Kerr couldn’t do that, because Kuminga is not a shooting guard, and only shooting guards are allowed to play in Kerr’s idiotic rotations these days.
Not to mention going back on his word in the “official statements” regarding Kuminga MULTIPLE times now. Kerr is literally destroying this team in front of us and some of you are arguing he isn’t, just to troll, but if you knew ball, you’d know Kerr’s “leadership” and overall demeanor has been lifeless and unprofessional since he told Poole to say that to Dray. He is a massive handicap to the Warriors in the way he doles out minutes to his roster (his primary job), and also he cant develop draft picks or keep Dray’s emotions under control, and he also can’t come up with non-Curry rotations that aren’t utter trash. What does he do that is positive in 2025? File 404 not found. How is he even a top 15 coach in the league anymore? GSW can do better here, and Lacob is starting to see it.
Like, Kerr’s idiotic minutes usage snowballs down, including and effecting the W-L record. Sure, we can point to 13-14, but if he simply played the rotations that were cooking for longer, that would easily be 20-7. This is the first time riding Steph isn’t working, as Steph has been glorious and legendarily putting the team on his back. 8 games of Steph scoring 34+ for a 3-5 record this year. That’s 5 losses on the other guys. There aint no player out there who’s team becomes THIS bad the second he is off the court. Top 6 offense with Curry, 30th without. Cool work, Steve Kerr! Competent!
Kuminga and Heild to Memphis for KCP, Landale and two future 1st
If only. Landale was lighting it up against Los Lobos tonight. He might be the best of the four players you listed.
Yeah, I think Jock is going to be a surprisingly popular FA next summer. He’s been pretty good this year.
instead of who minutes he will take lets just say Podz is the guy who needs his minutes cut to 20 or less. moody minutes cut too. buddy should be cut way low to around 12 minutes a game. TJD ride the bench unless its garbage time. there is enough for Kuminga to get 25 minutes a game.
Moody’s minutes need to INCREASE greatly. If anything he is the one who has lost his minutes to the talentless Podz. Moody is the best defensive SG on the roster. No one touches him.
Brandin Podziemski is literally the worst player on the roster. Gui Santos is better than Podz.
I realize wins are important but when in doubt you play the youngsters. At least the gms are not wasted…
All Kerr has to do is play his best players, not make it a “spread the minutes among 15 guys” competition. Stop playing Podz, GP2 and Buddy altogether for a month or two, only let them in blowouts, they are not cutting it as closing units in late and close games.
I’m not sure who the “poor ba$t@rd” is anymore.
Is it Kerr for keep having to placate a front office and player who clearly can’t & won’t fit into the team concept?
Or is It Kuminga for never getting a reasonable opportunity to play and develop over any reasonable length of time?
I consistently thought it was Kuminga bc he never got a real chance & it may be tough to be a young player with Draymond.
But honestly, I have no idea anymore.
Kuminga is plenty good, he currently leads the team in rebounds a game. I don’t understand that yes, his style might clash with Jimmy’s but you still give Kuminga all the non-Jimmy minutes, not freaking too small/horrible player Podz or washed up/too small Buddy. Makes no sense DNPing him.
Chicago get. Kuminga and Seth Curry
Warriors get. Nikola Vučević, Klay Thompson and future 1st and two 2nds from Chicago and a future 1st from Dallas
Dallas gets. Heild, Noa Essengue, Trenyn Flowers and cash
Who says no?
Chicago says no, of course.
Giving up Essengue, a lottery pick. Giving up another 1st and 2 seconds. Giving up Vucevic who is actually playing for them and who’s on an expiring deal.
To get Kuminga?
Cby Whitr on Warriors. Becomes their second leading scorer right away. With Jimmy and Steph he will get better looks. He can run the point. But is really more a combo guard, scorer. He is an excellent ball handler. Something Warriors lack.
He avg 5 ast a game and 22 pts. He is an 81% FT shooter .673% 2pt, 270% 3pt but career 37%.
He is 25 yrs old. And he is just starting to peak. He can learn plenty from Steph and Jimmy. He is not small 6’ 4” and 200 lbs. He is still getting better. He can give the Warriors the consistency they don’t get from other guards. He can start therefore makes their bench better. Imo he is perfect for this system. And seems Bulls don’t want to pay him.
Williams is another player Bulls don’t want. To this day they still don’t know how to ise him. You can get him cheap. He is a great backup to Jimmy. And can learn from him. Williams can be a lot like OG imo. Both these players are young.
Coby White sucks and will absolutely NOT score more than Curry, are you on crack?
Coby White is really good.. methinks you may be the crackhead.. that said, he’s certainly going to end up on the Dubs.
White has a career 1.5 VORP. Jimmy Butler has 1.4 in 23 games this year. White plays zero defense and has zero size. GSW do not need another SG. Also White is shooting 29% from 3 lol
0/10 trolling effort, be better. Delete your account if Giannis goes to GSW, mmkay?
Delete your account once Curry retires, mmmkay?
That’s funny, you’ve been trying to trade Butler since the moment he became a Warrior. Obvsly Coby is not Jimmy Butler.. no shyt sherlock.