ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins issued a strong position on Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga today. Kuminga showcased a highly improved season last year. Will that improvement carry over into this season and be even better? Perkins believes that Steve Kerr should focus on his young star going into the new NBA campaign.
NBA Analyst Insists Jonathan Kuminga Needs Statement Season
ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins Calls on Warriors Jonathan Kuminga
Jonathan Kuminga had his best season as a Golden State Warrior last season, and Kendrick Perkins, NBA analyst for ESPN’s NBA Today, is calling on the young gun to have a statement season.
The Warriors lineup will look a little different this season without beloved former franchise player Klay Thompson. With one splash brother gone and one remaining, Kuminga might be the Warriors’ most important player outside of Steph Curry and Draymond Green. One could argue that Andrew Wiggins should be thrown in there, but the truth is, we don’t know what type of player he will be this season.
That’s where Kuminga slides into the fray. While Warriors coach Steve Kerr is figuring out his lineups in training camp, Perkins posted a clear message for Kuminga coming off his best season.
“…what about Jonathan Kuminga?” Perkins asked after referencing that Curry and Green are Kerr’s two unmoved starters. “…cause outside of Steph Curry if was the head coaching of the Golden State Warriors I’m definitely coming in thinking about Jonathan Kuminga. I think he’s going to be, or needs to be, the second option on this team.”
Kuminga Before Green and Wiggins?
Perkins would go on to point to Kuminga’s much improved 2023-24 season compared to his previous ones. The NBA’s television hot-take specialist might have some good thoughts on this one. Of Kuminga’s three seasons in the NBA, last season was unquestionably his best. He raised his PPG average from 9.9 (2022-23) to 16.9 last season. His rebounds (4.8) and assists (2.2) also improved, and he played six more minutes per game compared to the previous year.
What was also evident throughout much of last season was that Coach Kerr had started to trust Kuminga more as the season progressed. The coach and player had experienced some tension regarding playing time and usage. However, Kerr acknowledged that only good things came from his private one-on-one conversations with his young star. Sure enough, Kuminga’s game rose to another level once they hashed out their issues. Kuminga went through a stretch of averaging 20 PPG and was in the closing lineup down the stretch.
Kuminga may be a better bet as the next option behind Curry. Green, offensively, is not a threat, and Wiggins has been such an up-and-down player since the Warriors’ 2022 championship when he was likely the Warriors’ best player behind Curry. Perkins also stated that since Kuminga hasn’t secured an extension yet, he should be coming into this season looking to make a statement.
The X-Factor
Kerr should recognize Kuminga’s impact and improvement last year and make him a focal point this year, furthering his rise as a talented young player. Plus, the Warriors organization as a whole should look at Kuminga in the future tense. All things considered, Curry’s future grows shorter with each new season.
It’s too early to depict the type of season Golden State will have. Equally, it’s too early to predict how Klay Thompson’s loss will affect the team’s offense. Nevertheless, suppose Kendrick Perkins is correct, and Jonathan Kuminga is the key to the Warriors’ season. Steve Kerr needs to recognize this sooner rather than later or, perhaps he already has.
