Jonathan Kuminga
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Jonathan Kuminga played his first game for the Atlanta Hawks against the Washington Wizards.
After nearly a month out of action, Jonathan Kuminga was back on the court on Tuesday. Kuminga made his debut for the Atlanta Hawks and dropped a gem of a game against the Washington Wizards.
Kuminga finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals off the bench to lead the Hawks to a 119-98 win. He came off the bench to provide a spark. It came early in the first quarter after Jalen Johnson went down with a hip flexor injury.
The young forward went 9-for-12 from the field, making three shots from beyond the arc and knocking down six of his seven attempts from the free-throw line.
He also became the only player in franchise history to score 25 or more points in less than 30 minutes in his Hawks debut, as per Hawks PR.
The Hawks acquired Kuminga and Buddy Hield from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis at the trade deadline. It was a fresh start for Kuminga, who didn’t see eye-to-eye with Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Quin Snyder Comments on Kuminga’s Debut
In his postgame media availability, Hawks coach Quin Snyder was asked about Jonathan Kuminga’s first game with the team. Snyder was quite happy with what he saw from their new player, praising his maturity and instant chemistry with his teammates.
“The things that we’ve talked about as a team, clearly it was a focal point for him,” Snyder said. “Our playing with the pass is, as you’ve heard me say it since October, and he really demonstrated that right away. Even to the point where it’s okay to shoot, too.”
The coach added, “He let himself get in the game. Got connected with his teammates and just let the game come to him. I think that shows a lot of maturity on his part and shows a lot of kind of how he feels about the group.”
Playing in just his first game in more than a month due to a knee injury, Kuminga was limited to just 24 minutes. Based on how he played and depending on Jalen Johnson’s injury, more minutes are likely going to be available for him moving forward.
Kuminga Reacts to His Explosive Debut
Speaking to FanDuel Sports Network’s Madison Hack after the game, Jonathan Kuminga didn’t dwell too much on his performance. It was all about the team win for the former Warriors player, who finally has closure about that chapter of his career.
“I will say we all just have a goal here,” Kuminga said. “We’re trying to win as many games as we can. Just collectively, we’re just trying to win so many games, so just going out there with the mindset of winning. I think when you go out there with that mindset, everything will just fall through.”
Kuminga credited his teammates for bringing joy to the court, which helps him smile while playing. It means a lot to him and is a very important part of their success for the rest of the season. The Hawks are back in action on Thursday in a rematch against the Washington Wizards.