Jonathan Kuminga
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Warriors' general manager Mike Dunleavy appears to have thrown some more shade at Jonathan Kuminga after trading him to the Hawks
The Golden State Warriors‘ 2025-26 campaign has not gone according to plan. Injuries have put the team in a tough spot, and trade drama involving Jonathan Kuminga hovered over the team for much of the season. After what felt like years of speculation, Kuminga was mercifully dealt to the Atlanta Hawks ahead of the trade deadline.
For whatever reason, the relationship between Kuminga and the Warriors soured over the years, to the point where a trade was the only logical outcome for all parties. Even though he’s gone now, though, it’s clear that there’s still bad blood between the two sides, as Golden State’s general manager, Mike Dunleavy, recently took an opportunity to throw some more shade at Kuminga.
Mike Dunleavy Gets Brutally Honest on Jonathan Kuminga
The Warriors selected Kuminga with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he immediately helped Golden State win the 2022 NBA Finals. Throughout the first few years of his career, Kuminga frequently flashed his potential, but he was unable to find a way consistently crack head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation.
Eventually, Kuminga’s frustrations boiled over, as he requested a trade out of Golden State. The team refused to immediately grant it, though, resulting in both sides being left in a less-than-ideal holding pattern. Kuminga didn’t want to be on the Warriors, and the Warriors didn’t want him on their roster, but there was seemingly no end in sight.
The trade saga eventually came to an end, with Kuminga finding his way to the Hawks. Through three games, his numbers have been great (21.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 67.7 FG%) as he’s proven what he’s capable of with a full slate of minutes. However, his old friends in Golden State don’t seem to care, as Dunleavy admitted he hasn’t been keeping tabs on Kuminga since unloading him a few weeks ago.
“I haven’t watched anything yet,” Dunleavy said when asked if he’s been keeping tabs on Kuminga, per Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard. “We’ve been really busy with stuff here in a myriad of different ways. I think with JK all along, I mean, the talent is there. This guy is a good basketball player when he plays the right way, when he does the right things. We wish him the best.”
Warriors Moving on From Jonathan Kuminga Saga
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 24: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at State Farm Arena on February 24, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The whole handling of the Kuminga trade saga was certainly confusing, but there’s no sense crying over spilled milk. Both sides eventually got what they wanted, even if fans are left scratching their heads, wondering why Kuminga was never truly given a shot to find his way with the team after it used a high draft pick on him.
Regardless, the Warriors have bigger fish to fry, as they are trying to find a way to stay in the playoff hunt without Stephen Curry on the floor. After suffering a pair of losses to the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State will face another daunting challenge when it squares off against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.