In a thoroughly reported, in-depth story for ESPN.com, Anthony Slater takes a last look at the four-and-a-half year relationship between Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors, examining how the relationship between the two sides deteriorated and devolved into a series of “petty” gripes and grievances in its final months.
While it would be an oversimplification to say that Kuminga’s time in Golden State was doomed from the start, the decision to draft him with the seventh overall pick in 2021 instead of Franz Wagner became a “central tension point” throughout the organization, Slater writes.
With Steve Kerr preparing Team USA for the Olympics during the summer of 2021 and not overly involved in the pre-draft process, team sources tell ESPN that several members of Golden State’s coaching staff attended Wagner’s workout with the Warriors and came away feeling as if the eventual Magic forward would fit better into Kerr’s system than Kuminga would.
However, that wasn’t the consensus among the team’s decision-makers. Team owner Joe Lacob known to be among those who preferred Kuminga, according to Slater, who says the Kuminga pick became a “signature example” of Lacob’s involvement in personnel moves during the post-Kevin Durant years.
Some team sources who spoke to ESPN suggested that Lacob’s attachment to Kuminga in subsequent years – and his reluctance to include him in trade packages – was connected to his desire to be proven right about his initial belief in the forward. Others insist the Warriors’ decision not to trade Kuminga until last week was about much more than just Lacob’s preferences.
“Joe gets outsized blame,” one source told Slater. “Complex situation. There was a ton of indecision (from several people).”
Slater’s report putting a bow on the Kuminga era in Golden State is worth reading in full if you’re a Warriors fan. Here are a few more highlights:
- Kuminga and his agent Aaron Turner believed Kerr and the Warriors were constantly taking subtle “pokes” at the forward in media sessions, according to Slater. For example, after the 23-year-old received his first DNP-CD of the season in December, Kerr explained the move by saying, “Happens to everyone in the league, other than the stars.” Kuminga, who has long believed he can be a star if given the opportunity, viewed the remark as an unnecessary reminder that Kerr didn’t necessarily share that belief. “That’s the s–t I’m talking about,” Kuminga said. “Why’s he gotta say that?”
- Kerr frequently cited high-level role players like Shawn Marion and Aaron Gordon as comparables for Kuminga, while the forward believed he was better suited for more a featured offensive role and was frustrated that the team didn’t trust him and give him more on-ball opportunities. According to Slater, Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. pointed to Kuminga’s lower efficiency numbers in isolation and mid-range situations and accused Kuminga’s camp of having him work on “the wrong things” away from the team facility.
- During Kuminga’s long stretch of DNP-CDs in December and January of this season, he began packing up his belongings at his Bay Area home in preparation for a trade and also declined four opportunities to take the court, sources tell ESPN. As Slater explains, the Warriors asked Kuminga to check in during three garbage-time situations and wanted him to play in a January 2 game vs. Oklahoma City when Golden State was missing several regulars.
- Members of the Warriors’ coaching staff and front office viewed Kuminga’s refusal to play in those situations as a sign that he’d quit on the team, per Slater. Kuminga, in turn, believed the team had already quit on him and regarded the request for him to play in a nationally televised game against the defending champs after a month of inactivity as “a recipe to shame him.”
- While some Warriors players “expressed their annoyances” about the Kuminga saga, the 23-year-old considered Jimmy Butler a true mentor. Sources tell ESPN that Butler expressed a belief that there was a double standard within the organization in the way Kuminga was treated relative to other players.
If you read the whole piece, it’s really, REALLY hard to see the Warriors in a positive light here. That could just be the bias it’s written with, but still.
I went from the somewhat-of-a-copout 50/50 blame, then to 75-25 on Kuminga (thanks to a commenter on this platform), then to 55 on Kuminga (you evolve to fit what the team wants/needs you to do; if you don’t like it, then you try leave come first chance), 20 on Lacob (leave the draft selections to the guys who know better), 15 on Kerr and the coaching staff (you guys didn’t give Kuminga enough space to grow and make mistakes; although, you could deflect some of their blame onto the surprisingly successful ‘22 season), 10 on Dunleavy for trading for a guy (Jimmy) who further reduced JK’s role.
I just found it enlightening to see how they didn’t really draft based on how the coach and team was constructed, but rather what Lacob envisioned. “Light Years”
But we’ve all seen quotes from Lacob how he didn’t think Curry would continue to be this good so late in his career back when they drafted Wiseman and Kuminga.
Both were at fault but his agent filling his head with you are worth $150 million before he proved he was worth it is what turned it real bad. Lacob’s fault for sticking his nose into who should be drafted. So much blame to go all around.
The guy that wrote the article writes about the Warriors and covers them. That’s his job so there’s no bias against the Warriors.
Please don’t forget that Kuminga had a high usage rate with the Warriors. He had trouble fulfilling his role, really it doesn’t seem any bigger than that
Kuminga still leads this season’s Warriors in rebounds per game – he isn’t a bad player by any metric, but this absolutely plays into my “Kerr playing him in rotations that will not work (JK plus 4 SGs)” theory.
Bucks are doing to Giannis what GSW did to JK.
Ok it didn’t work for either side. We all knew that, can we please stop talking about Kuminga and Warriors. You got two years out of this for content. Let’s move on
I’m a Cavs fan and remember the hit pieces written about JB Bickerstaff at the end of his tenure there. Pieces like that are designed to get engagement.
You commenting on an article about the piece is kind of doing exactly what it intended.
I agree, almost none of this needed to be made public. The Warriors are the #1 highest value franchise, no amount of food is going to dent them in any way, especially if it were only a handful of people taking some. Food goes bad anyway, they likely throw out a ton of it. The Warriors only were made to look terrible here.
The only way out of this for GSW is they need to completely revamp the franchise by firing Kerr and MDJ, and getting rid of Draymond, Podz and GP2.
He’s gonna have to face reality he doesn’t hsve thr talent to be the kind of star on offense he wants and no team wants to give him a star role on offense! On him to find his niche as a high end role player or become a journeyman before flaming out of the league
GSW sucks way too much as an organisation!!!
Too much dislike able!
I can care less about this situation. I’m fine hearing about it. He was traded, time to move on already
In a similar lane, as a Warriors fan, the way they decided Kelenna and Bob were going to be their commentary team, always made me go “really? them??? Two guys with absolutely zero chemistry and charisma are the voice of the highest-value franchise????”
They could have gotten literally anyone, they could have pulled a celebrity or comedian for this role, and instead went with guys who talk over Steph’s highlights as they are happening in front of them, talking about golf or some crud. GSW’s commentary team has long been the joke of the league, but they have never spoken about upgrading them? Weird move from the richest team. Shouldn’t they have the best commentary and stadium experience? Shouldn’t every aspect of the team be “the best money can buy” including the roster (although the roster is limited by the salary cap)???
Surely this is 100% Kerr’s fault Davey.
What i don’t get is why did Kuminga sign with the warriors if he hated it that much? Oh right it has always been about the money to him. Kuminga will always play for the money first. When you main focus is money You lose sight of winning and improving.
Cmon man, it was literally “pick $45M or $8M”. You pick the $45M every time.
You expect the professional NBA team to get over it and not act like spoiled brat children, not the other way around. Kuminga never really stopped balling out. He had bad single games that were created by Kerr playing him as a center with 4 undersized SGs who play zero defense, and was instantly met with DNP’s. Which is insane. DNPing a guy making $20M. Podz cant find the rim, create plays, pass or provide size on defense, but he gets unlimited chances and minutes? Moody been better than Podz this whole time. The Warriors FO are acting like massive spoiled brat crybabies.
Moody moved up in the rotation over Podz because Moody’s defense is better. Just watch Kuminga will have the same type of career as Oubre.
Oubre is one way his career could fall, but with good coaching, not terrible coaching, he could really take the next step, he has the tools to do so.
We dont need a story on this, we were here the past 4 years
The Warriors did their young players, and specially Kuminga, wrong
I’m a Wars fan but to say they mismanaged Kuminga would be a huge understatement