The Golden State Warriors' 2-1 start to the regular season could certainly be partially attributed to their 23-year-old high-flying wing Jonathan Kuminga.
Over the course of Golden State's first three contests in 2025-26, his buy-in to the Warriors' vision has become evident due to his improved patience, decision-making and more seamless fit within the team's offensive system predicated upon constant screening and cutting.
Heading into an anticipated matchup against 2-time All-Star Ja Morant and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. on Monday night, several factors could allow Kuminga to establish himself as a truly inevitable rising star, and even a potential All-Star in 2025-26.
Though his box score figures of 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals may not jump off of the page immediately, it's worth noting that each of those figures are career-bests for the athletic 6-foot-8 forward while attempting his fewest number of field goal attempts since 2022-23 (9.7).
His efficiency has even reached another level in the early going, as he's compiled an otherworldly 68.6% true shooting percentage.
While he has taken a career-high 4.0 three-pointers through his first three games of the year, his main form of offensive initiation still comes from attacking the rim and getting defenders off-balance through creating contact.
Fortunately for Kuminga, the Grizzlies have let up a bottom-5 ranked 58.0 points in the paint to their opponents so far.
It's plausible to believe that several of these points, along with a heightened reliance on his scoring ability from Golden State, could converge to create a perfect storm, and in turn, a Jonathan Kuminga statement game.
If the Warriors are willing to allow Kuminga to take a few more shots, freely drive to the basket and work him into actions resulting in wide-open looks in the dunker spot and cuts towards the rim, there's no telling what kind of damage he can do.
By the end of the night, he might convince a portion of the NBA world that a future All-Star appearances is not out of the realm of possibility.
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