Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors
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Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors go for a rebound.
The Golden State Warriors will again be shorthanded Thursday night, with Jonathan Kuminga set to miss his sixth consecutive game due to a bone bruise — assuming he remains on the roster past the NBA trade deadline.
Jonathan Kuminga Injury Complicates Warriors’ Trade Deadline Plans
Kuminga’s continued absence has carried implications well beyond the nightly rotation. The 23-year-old forward has been a central piece in Golden State’s trade discussions, particularly in frameworks involving Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
With Kuminga sidelined, the Warriors have lacked athleticism, rim pressure and downhill scoring — shortcomings that have been magnified with Stephen Curry also unavailable. The timing has placed Golden State in a delicate balancing act: managing injuries while weighing franchise-altering trade possibilities.
Steve Kerr: Kuminga Returns to Rotation If He Stays
Warriors coach Steve Kerr made clear earlier this week that Kuminga would immediately reclaim a role if trade talks fail to materialize.
Speaking Monday on 95.7 The Game’s Willard & Dibs, Kerr emphasized that the injuries surrounding the roster have reopened the door.
“With Jimmy’s injury it changes everything for us, and for JK,” Kerr said. “It was good to have him back in the lineup and in the rotation. Now that Jimmy is out, we’ll see what happens with the trade deadline. But if nothing happens, JK is right back in the rotation and we keep moving forward.”
The Warriors are 2–4 since Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending ACL injury, further thinning an already strained rotation and increasing the need for Kuminga’s size and explosiveness.
Kerr Dismisses Any Rift With Kuminga
Kerr also pushed back on the notion that Kuminga’s reduced role earlier in the season stemmed from any personality conflict with the coaching staff.
“We’ve always gotten along well, and there’s never been any issues on that front,” Kerr said. “It’s really been more about playing time, and the door is wide open for him with these injuries.”
Before the bone bruise sidelined him again, Kuminga averaged 15.0 points per game while shooting 76.9% from the field in two January appearances, providing a glimpse of the efficiency and physicality the Warriors have been missing.
Stephen Curry Ruled Out Again as Injuries Mount
Kuminga’s absence comes as Curry was officially ruled out on Wednesday’s NBA injury report with patellofemoral pain syndrome — commonly known as runner’s knee — marking his second straight missed game.
Golden State immediately felt the impact. Without Curry, the Warriors were overmatched in a 113–94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, struggling to generate consistent offense or late-game shot creation.
Curry sustained the injury midway through the third quarter of last week’s 131–124 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Despite Kerr labeling him day-to-day, five days have passed with no return to action.
The Warriors are now 4–8 this season without Curry, underscoring how thin their margin becomes when their offensive engine is unavailable.
Giannis Trade Talks Linger as Warriors Wait
Against that backdrop, Golden State’s pursuit of Antetokounmpo remains unresolved.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Bucks have yet to officially decline the Warriors’ trade frameworks, one of which includes Draymond Green, Kuminga, Milwaukee native Brandin Podziemski, and draft compensation. Golden State controls up to four first-round picks and a pick swap to include in negotiations.
However, Sam Amick of The Athletic reported Tuesday that Milwaukee has found the offers for its franchise star underwhelming.
“As of Monday evening, the offers coming the Bucks’ way for the ‘Greek Freak’ were still believed to be so underwhelming — in the eyes of rival executives and agents — that this saga looks likely to extend into the summertime,” Amick wrote.
Warriors Balancing Injuries, Uncertainty and Urgency
For now, the Warriors are left managing immediate concerns while waiting for clarity on bigger ones. Kuminga’s injury keeps a key trade chip and rotation piece sidelined. Curry’s knee continues to test Golden State’s short-term competitiveness. And the Antetokounmpo pursuit remains alive, but uncertain.
As Thursday’s deadline approaches, the Warriors’ direction hinges on whether health stabilizes, whether trade talks move forward, and whether Kuminga’s next appearance comes in a Golden State uniform — or as part of a far larger gamble.