Jonathan Kuminga stands out as one of the brightest prospects in the NBA. He just celebrated his 23rd birthday, and now he’s about to begin his fifth season for the Golden State Warriors. As Kuminga enters this new chapter, he does so with high hopes. He hopes to do better than imitate Jimmy Butler, the star of their construction project, the Miami Heat known for his Dogkilla and great scoring talents. Kuminga uses Butler’s path as an inspiring model for his own career. He truly represents the success story of hard work and determination in this cutthroat league.
Kuminga’s development became even more pivotal this summer as he landed in the middle of his very own contract standoff. This stalemate came to an end less than 48 hours into training camp, resulting in a two-year contract valued at a reported $48.5 million. This singular resolution cleared a path for Kuminga to spend more time developing his skills to help the Warriors win now and in the future.
In the first third of the season, Kuminga flashed jaw-dropping upside. He paired excellently with Butler, as the duo played 86 minutes together in the first five games. Their partnership was an impressive stretch of time, with the Warriors outscoring opponents by a staggering 40 points during that stretch. This collaboration not only highlighted Kuminga’s ability to thrive under pressure but allowed him to learn from Butler’s seasoned experience.
Kuminga’s performance during training camp earned him a starting position, particularly crucial given Stephen Curry’s injury. Everybody could see how hard he worked, and his great upbeat attitude was infectious, but problems soon started to crop up. Knee tendinitis more recently sidelined him for the last four games of a maintenance-heavy road trip, and as a 6’11” center, his long-term durability is in question.
Even with those disappointments, Kuminga’s presence was known on both sides of the court. He provided immense value when he locked up opposing stars like Jamal Murray during crucial stretches of games. His knack for rebounding—he once tallied eight in a Red Bull Dome classic—was further showing of his rebounding prowess. This was a mixed bag for Kuminga too, as he took a step back in his turnover rate and overall effectiveness.
Kuminga expressed his dedication to improving by telling head coach Steve Kerr, “I want you to know I’ve been working on my Jimmy spacing.” This comment illustrates his dedication to evolving his game and learning from savvy pros such as Butler. Inconsistency has perhaps been his greatest bugaboo. He showed us something different on Nov. 7 in a home game against the Indiana Pacers, when he had one of the worst games imaginable — and still competed.
Looking to address those obstacles, Kerr reiterated the need to realize that success in basketball is about more than points. “He has to understand it doesn’t mean just score,” said Kerr. The coaching staff recognizes that Kuminga’s growth is essential for the team’s success and they are intent on placing him in situations where he can thrive.
Kuminga’s emergence hasn’t escaped the notice of his more experienced teammates. As Warriors teammate Draymond Green and 76ers superstar Jimmy Butler have already emphasized repeatedly, Kuminga needs to take control in those important moments. They know that an engaged and influential version of Kuminga is key to the Warriors’ hopes this season.
In addition, Butler has gone beyond coaching to play a mentorship role, teaching and inspiring Kuminga. “So he’s got a lot of feelings, which is OK,” Butler noted when discussing Kuminga’s emotional landscape as he navigates the pressures of professional basketball. He went on to dispel the worry of Kuminga, saying that “I think I just got to stay on him now. Give him the assurance that I’m all in your corner. We all are in your corner.”
Butler acknowledged the external pressures that can affect young players: “But with that, I think [Draymond Green] nailed it on the head. He said, ‘Hey, you asked for this.’ So all the talking that they talking — good, bad, indifferent — you can’t let this s
Leave a Reply