Golden State Warriors forwards Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green sit on the bench
Getty
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Draymond Green #23 (left) speaks to Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors on the bench during their game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half at Chase Center on January 10, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors are still trying to figure out the future of Jonathan Kuminga after he requested a trade from the team. Head coach Steve Kerr and Kuminga have struggled to get on the same page for the second consecutive season. Kuminga looked impressive in the first few weeks of the season, but he once again found himself in Kerr’s doghouse to get zero minutes in many games.
Draymond Green was asked about Kuminga and praised him strongly in a post-game interview on Amazon Prime:
“He comes in with a smile, the way he’s reacted and responded to this, will not only carry the rest of his basketball career, but his demeanor will carry him the rest of his life well because he’s been incredible. He’s staying ready. He’s one of the best young guys I’ve been around.”
Kuminga has been questioned for potentially exaggerating an injury to remain out of the lineup after Kerr said he was unsure about the young player’s status weeks ago. This turning into a trade request has put Kuminga’s name under question. Green went out of his way to show support for Kuminga and highlight his professionalism when the cameras are off.
Draymond Green Couldn’t Handle Kuminga’s Situation
The strange scenario of Kuminga getting benched as a talented young player is not one most NBA players would enjoy. Green mentioned this to provide context for how well Kuminga is handling such a difficult situation at a young age.
“He’s dealing with it better than probably I would,” Green said bluntly to Prime Sports. “The way he’s dealt with this at 23 years old I tip my hat to him because he’s staying engaged, he is in here working out every day his attitude is the same every day.”
Many on-court moments show that Green is prone to losing his cool if he feels he’s being treated unfairly. Kerr benching Kuminga for this long is something Green implies would be hard for him to deal with. Green believes that Kuminga deserves credit for being a great teammate, despite the negative situation reaching a boiling point.
Draymond Green Supports Kuminga’s Future
Green also went out of his way to praise Kuminga’s talent and say that the young star will succeed in the NBA. The trade deadline coming up will see Kuminga either traded to a team that believes in him more or he’ll remain with the Warriors and get another chance in the rotation at some point.
Kerr seemingly lost faith in Kuminga again, but Golden State will need their depth to help them again on such an aging roster. Kuminga has a higher ceiling than any of the other young talents on the roster to make it more confusing why Kerr keeps him benched.
Green’s comments shined a light into the locker room supporting Kuminga for not making the situation worse. Many players on the trade block have made a situation toxic with their teammates, but Kuminga has understood the business side of things. Green proved that Kuminga has the support of many players, even if he’s on the way out of the door.