Despite uncertainty, Stephen Curry stands optimistic that Jonathan Kuminga can redeem himself and help the Golden State Warriors this season.
Jonathan Kuminga has significantly struggled recently for the Golden State Warriors, which led to his instant reappearance on the league's rumor mill.
Upon his first DNP of the season in the team's blowout win against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, many anticipate that the forward will finally be dealt once he becomes trade-eligible by Jan. 15.
Although there is uncertainty about what might be the next to unfold, Stephen Curry is optimistic that both Kuminga and the Warriors can still work it out, which will allow the 23-year-old to identify who he is as a player.
"It’s a partnership for sure, especially with the situation we have where it’s been the same coach and the same system," Curry said on Thursday. "It’s just a matter of asking the right questions and being honest with yourself both ways—are you doing things so the message is being heard, and are you actually out there on the court trying to do the right things?
"The hardest part, whether it’s going well or not, is not losing your spirit. That’s been JK’s challenge as a young player. Things change so quickly and there are all these declarations about what or who he is as a player, whether he fits, and all that."
Kuminga had a promising start in this 2025-26 season, becoming a part of the team's starting unit. Yet suddenly, his performance regressed, prompting Steve Kerr to put him on the bench.
And after missing seven games due to knee tendinitis, Kuminga's decline became even worse. In his last four games before the DNP against the Bulls, he averaged 7.8 points with only 12 field goals made out of 40 total attempts.
Kuminga's woes became another key element of the Warriors' recent slump, which motivated Kerr to prioritize other players.
Regardless of what might await heading into mid-January, Curry remains positive that Kuminga can redeem himself and help Golden State.
"We still have high hopes that he’ll impact our team this year," Curry said. "But you can’t lose your spirit if things aren’t going your way, because you’re a game or two away from it coming right back to you. If you’ve checked out or aren’t engaged in the learning process, you might miss your moment on the back end.
"So it is a back-and-forth and it’s the responsibility of both sides. As a team, it’s our job to support him because we know he’s a great dude, a very talented player, and we still believe he can help us."
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