Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga injury update
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Jonathan Kuminga #1 of the Golden State Warriors moves towards the basket on Nique Clifford #5 of the Sacramento Kings in the first half at Golden 1 Center on November 05, 2025
The Golden State Warriors (10-10) no longer resemble the team that started 4-1 a month ago. The locker room morale can’t be very high — Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III ripped the team to shreds after Tuesday’s 104-100 loss to a Kevin Durant-less Houston Rockets. To add insult to injury, Stephen Curry (quad contusion) and Gary Payton II (ankle) went down on Wednesday, joining Jonathan Kuminga (knee), De’Anthony Melton (knee) and Al Horford (sciatica) on the injury list.
While Curry is expected to “miss around a week,” per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Kuminga and Melton, who have been scrimmaging with the G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors, could be back sooner.
Jonathan Kuminga Injury Update
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Kuminga is aiming to return for Sunday’s clash against the New Orleans Pelicans.
“Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga appears to be close to returning,” reported Slater. “He scrimmaged Wednesday afternoon and told ESPN that he was aiming to be back for Saturday’s home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.”
Anthony Slater
De’Anthony Melton and Jonathan Kuminga were part of a 5-on-5 scrimmage at Chase Center today with the Santa Cruz Warriors. Two quarters. Both got through it well.
Kerr on Melton: “The toughest challenge for him will be rhythm…Physically he looks really good.”
Head coach Steve Kerr provided an update on Kuminga before Tuesday’s game.
“He did three-on-three before practice,” Kerr said, via The Athletic’s Nick Friedel.
“And that went well. And then he took part in all of practice. (Wednesday) he will scrimmage. He won’t play in the game (Wednesday), but he will take part in a five-on-five scrimmage (Wednesday) evening before our game, and that will give us a good gauge for where he is.”
Kuminga’s Warriors Future
It is widely expected that Kuminga will be moved after he becomes trade-eligible on January 15. While the Congolese forward has not established himself as a starter on the Warriors, he’s still viewed as a raw athlete with high upside around the league.
Furthermore, his risk-average, two-year $46.8 million contract, which includes a Team Option for 2026-27, makes him an attractive piece to teams, per insider Marc Stein.
“He’s not even eligible to be moved until Jan. 15, but it’s no secret that the Warriors’ hardball stance all summer with Kuminga in the sides’ restricted free agency saga was adopted with the intention to ensure that the 23-year-old was re-signed to a tradeable contract,” Stein reported on his Substack last week.
“‘It’s one of the best trade chips in the league,’ one veteran executive told The Stein Line.”
Kuminga could potentially be the centrepiece of a Warriors trade for Michael Porter Jr., Trey Murphy III or even Lauri Markkanen — depending on how the trade market shapes up heading into the February 5 deadline. Last season, the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler III just hours before the trade deadline.