Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga has been upgraded to questionable for the team’s Saturday evening matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. Kuminga has missed seven games with bilateral knee tendinitis, but has been progressing in his rehab and was recently reassigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors to begin ramping up to a return. With Steph Curry out, the Warriors could use all the scoring punch they can get.
Kuminga got off to a scorching hot start to the season, beginning the season in the starting lineup and thriving on both ends of the floor. However, a shooting slump coincided with a Warriors skid that eventually pushed him back into a bench role. Nevertheless, Kuminga has appeared in 13 games (12 starts) and is averaging 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on .478/.324/.771 shooting in 27.7 minutes per game. If Kuminga is able to suit up on Saturday, he should have an opportunity to lean more heavily on his ability as a downhill creator.
It’s no secret that both Kuminga and many in the Warriors organization are excited for a change when he can be traded in January. However, in the meantime, they both are hoping to improve his value until that time comes. In fact, a recent report suggested that the reigning Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers have been scouting Kuminga for some time. If Kuminga suits up, scouts from the Pacers and several teams around the league will be watching closely.