Since early January, the Golden State Warriors have been without Jonathan Kuminga, who has long been sidelined with an ankle injury. Kuminga was one of their best players up until his injury, and his being sidelined continued their downfall in the standings before the Jimmy Butler trade, which turned the ship around.
As Kuminga nears a return, the Warriors are optimistic that he can fit in but are aware that he has effectively been replaced in the lineup by Butler. Still, as he progresses, there is hope that he can provide another injection of two-way energy and elevate the Dubs as a true title contender.
According to recent reports from one league insider, Kuminga's return date could be close.
The Warriors will play at the Chase Center until March 20, and there is a growing belief that Kuminga could return between now and then, right in time for a six-game road trip, with three of those contests coming up against teams with real playoff hopes.
The Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, and Los Angeles Lakers would all be less intimidating if Kuminga were in the lineup.
Jonathan Kuminga will continue to work behind the scenes in practice and scrimmages before the medical staff evaluates his progress again on Tuesday and Wednesday, league sources told @ClutchPoints.
The Warriors are hopeful he can be cleared to return during this homestand. https://t.co/0gBzGfiR75
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) March 10, 2025
In 32 games this season, mostly off the bench, Kuminga posted 16.8 points, five rebounds, and 2.2 assists. Along with Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green, he was one of the better defenders on the roster, and with Butler in the lineup, even if Kuminga struggled offensively, the Dubs will only benefit on the defensive side of the ball and would enjoy having some degree of depth back in the rotation.
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This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM.