{"id":114703,"date":"2024-12-29T00:52:54","date_gmt":"2024-12-29T05:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=114703"},"modified":"2024-12-29T00:52:54","modified_gmt":"2024-12-29T05:52:54","slug":"apologies-warriors-jonathan-kuminga-loud-disrespect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/29\/apologies-warriors-jonathan-kuminga-loud-disrespect\/","title":{"rendered":"Apologies For Warriors Pick Should Be As Loud As Disrespect"},"content":{"rendered":"

One game doesn\u2019t change the reality of a situation, even if it was a victory against a championship contender. Two games won\u2019t change a player\u2019s overarching storyline, even if he scored 34 points in both. Nonetheless, after Golden State Warriors rising star Jonathan Kuminga<\/a>\u2019s second straight 34-point performance helped his team down Kevin Durant<\/a> and the Phoenix Suns, the apologies need to be as loud as the disrespect.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Kuminga Thriving During Warriors Roller Coaster Ride<\/h2>\n

The seventh overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Kuminga has been on an emotional roller coaster since being drafted by the Warriors.<\/p>\n

Coming into the league, the Congolese forward wasn\u2019t expected to put up All-NBA numbers right away. The Warriors still had Stephen Curry<\/a>, Jordan Poole<\/a>, Klay Thompson<\/a>, and Andrew Wiggins<\/a> at the time. In fact, with Draymond Green<\/a>\u2019s free agency approaching, the Warriors may have seen Kuminga as his eventual replacement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To that point, Kuminga isn\u2019t the playmaker Green is. However, he\u2019s a barrel-chested frontcourt piece who\u2019s athletic enough to guard multiple positions. At the very least, he would\u2019ve been able to play off of the Warriors more established scorers while making his presence defensively.<\/p>\n

Butterfly Effect<\/h3>\n

Kuminga\u2019s timeline was accelerated by Green punching Poole in practice, a hit that had wide-ranging implications. Because the video of the incident was leaked, Poole became a public laughingstock, which only added to the locker room tension<\/a>. Throughout that season, the Warriors appeared to be disjointed. When Green subsequently decided to re-sign with Golden State rather than leave in free agency, the writing was on the wall for Poole, who was soon traded to the Washington Wizards.<\/p>\n

The next season, Kuminga stepped into a larger scoring role, helping to fill the void left by Poole. However, Thompson\u2019s physical decline left the Warriors wanting more defensively. It was a perfect storm that allowed Kuminga to step into a starting spot. Though it was an awkward situation for Thompson and part of the reason he wanted to leave<\/a> as a free agent, the results couldn\u2019t be denied.<\/p>\n

Golden State was 27-19 with Kuminga as a starter versus 13-15 when he came off the bench. In his starts, the physically-gifted forward averaged 17.2 points per game while making 53.1 percent of his field goal attempts. He needed to work on his off-ball shooting and off-ball defense but there was plenty to like.<\/p>\n

Not On The Same Page<\/h3>\n

After an entertaining offseason that saw them making overtures for Paul George<\/a> and Lauri Markkanen<\/a>, it seemed like the Warriors were confident in Kuminga\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n

Yet, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr didn\u2019t see Kuminga as an ideal starter because he believes was more than a power forward than small forward. If this was 25 years ago, Kerr\u2019s argument would have more merit. However, the league is semi-positionless now, in part due to how team\u2019s have to defend teams like Golden State.<\/p>\n

His comments were more reflective the disconnect between him and Kuminga. Though Kerr has been critical of other players, he kicks it into high gear when it comes to the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n

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Steve Kerr on Jonathan Kuminga: \u201cI\u2019m not going to stop coaching (him). The last two games, his field goal attempts, his decision making has been poor. That needs to improve.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/wPYaBPEkn9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n