The most recent Jonathan Kuminga injury update has the Warriors’ young forward returning in the Warriors’ next game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. Kuminga has missed the last 31 games with a severe ankle sprain, and the Warriors have been slow in bringing him back from injury. Now that the date is actually set for Kuminga’s return, the Warriors’ coaching staff are going to have to ask some tough questions about where to fit him back into the rotation.
Warriors’ Coaches Have Tough Decisions With Kuminga’s Return
A New Team Emerges During Kuminga’s Injury
Kuminga was playing incredible basketball before he went down with an injury. He averaged 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his last ten games before going down, and looked like he was finding his stride as the Warriors’ second best scoring option.
Jonathan Kuminga is expected to return Thursday against the Kings, per sources. Kuminga will go through necessary final checkpoints, including tomorrow's practice, but current plan is for his 31-game absence to end as Warriors prep for playoff push.https://t.co/vT4OY65AGb
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 11, 2025
A lot has happened since then. The Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler, and have started to look like one of the best teams in basketball. They have completely turned around their season, and it all happened with Kuminga on the bench. Now the Warriors’ coaches are going to have to balance keeping the cohesive team winning, all while reintegrating a key piece.
The Jonathan Kuminga Injury Update Means Someone Will Be Benched Soon
Kuminga has to be in the lineup. He is too good to keep on the bench, and if the Warriors are going to want to reach their highest potential, it is with Kuminga playing a key role. This means that the Warriors’ coaches are going to need to find at least 25 minutes of playing time for Kuminga once he is fully healthy.
Right now, and really all season, the Warriors have been piecing together their rotation. They have a lot of playable guys, and coach Steve Kerr likes to use them all. Some players however are going to need to take a reduced role, no matter how good the Warriors are playing.
Who Should Lose Minutes to Kuminga?
Before Kuminga went down, Moses Moody was probably the main player losing minutes to him. Moody is no longer benchable. Since Kuminga’s injury, Moody has become a key piece of the Warriors’ rotation. He has been starting games alongside Butler to great success. The Warriors can’t afford to play him less.
Therefore, someone else is going to have to see their minutes cut. Should it be Buddy Hield? Hield has been inconsistent since his hot start, but he has been an important scoring weapon for the Warriors at times when their offense looks stagnant. Hield’s ability to space the floor, regardless of whether his shot is falling has been great for the Warriors’ offense.
Steve Kerr on the challenge of bringing Jonathan Kuminga back into the rotation when healthy:
"The idea is to bring him along slowly. Play him in short bursts… But, we've gotta keep playing Gui Santos. We've gotta keep playing the guys who are helping us win right now." pic.twitter.com/GWmYCYxE1s
— KNBR (@KNBR) March 9, 2025
Gui Santos is another player that could see himself riding the pine after Kuminga returns. Kerr himself said that it is going to be hard to play Santos less. Santos has provided a energetic spark through his hustle that the team feeds off of.
Maybe you play Gary Payton II less. He just had his career high of 26 points on Monday night. Quinten Post? He has come alive towards the end of his rookie season. Regardless of who loses minutes, it is clear that the Warriors’ coaching staff has some really tough decisions to make once Kuminga returns.
Photo credit: © David Gonzales-Imagn Images
