Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga has secured his future with the team after a challenging free-agency period. On September 30, Kuminga signed an extension at $48.5 million over two years. The agreement further contains a second-year team option. Under the terms of this deal, the Warriors can trigger a renegotiation only after the end of the 2025-26 season.
Kuminga’s path to this moment hasn’t been so clear-cut. That didn’t stop the 23-year-old from averaging an impressive 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists on the year. He did all of that in just 24.3 minutes per game while primarily being a bench player. His play has made clear his immense upside. Talks fell apart over the summer, leaving his future with the franchise in question.
Born in neighboring Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuminga’s journey is one forged through adversity. He was born only a year before the end of the Second Congo War. This painful conflict took the lives of over 2 million people and permanently changed a generation that survived. In every other aspect of his life, however, Ingram has overcome adversity to reach the pinnacle of his sport and today his family lives in Orlando comfortably.
On August 2, Kuminga joined the Geno-Cost Commemoration Day event in Kinshasa, Congo. It was there that he began to speak deeply and passionately about his origins, the wonderful gift of his formative years. He thanked his family for their support, especially his mother, a pastor, who he said supported him through this process.
“I come from a Christian family. My mom is still a pastor. As I’m speaking right now, today is Sunday. I’ve got to call her. She’s probably coming back from church.” – Jonathan Kuminga
The forward’s dedication to his faith appears to steer him in every aspect of life, on and off the court. He noted the importance of peace in life, stating, “There is not a bad life or a better way to live life [than] being in peace. No matter the circumstance, you’ve always got to work towards that peace.”
Kuminga’s free-agency odyssey with the Warriors included conversations with veteran cornerstones of the franchise like Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Their advice and personal experiences were invaluable as he worked his way through various trade situations and down to contract negotiations. Kuminga no longer qualifies for a salary floor trade under NBA trade rules as of January 15th, 2026. This has been another complicating factor in his situation.
Over the offseason, Kuminga’s camp met with Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. While they endured some difficult negotiations, ultimately they were able to hammer out a deal that allowed them to retain him in Golden State. Reflecting on his emotional state during this period, Kuminga recalled feeling primarily joy and gratitude when the contract was finalized.
“I didn’t have no emotion. I think my family did, and I mainly just felt joy, and happy, and blessed, and thanks to God that it happened.” – Jonathan Kuminga
His performance over the course of the last season, especially in the playoffs, was evidence of his leap as a player. He expressed a strong desire to improve further, stating, “I was grinding. I was trying to find a way to come back and be better because I’m chasing something bigger and it’s a championship.” His competitiveness is just what the Warriors need as they look to compete for a title next season.
Kuminga’s story from a tiny province in Congo to the NBA is incredible. He recognizes how unlikely it is that a person like him would ever have such an opportunity.
“I went from nothing to something. I’m a child from a small area in Congo. So, it’s not too many people that have a chance of making it.” – Jonathan Kuminga
With the new season quickly approaching, Kuminga is focused on doing everything he can to help the Warriors win again. He’s equally intent on improving his game on the court. He understands that although contracts, politics, and negotiations are increasingly important aspects of the business, performance needs to remain king.
“Like we said on media day, that stuff is part of the business. He showed up [Oct. 2], it was business as usual. Come in, play, give effort, continue to try to get better.” – Stephen Curry
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