Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reportedly took issue with Jonathan Kuminga prioritizing his own shot at the expense of the team’s offensive flow, which led to multiple DNPs for Kuminga, including in the regular-season finale.
The Golden State Warriors will be facing elimination this Wednesday night as they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a crucial Game 5, with the series currently at 3-1 in favor of Minnesota.
3-pointers this season
Golden State Warriors
NBA
They’ll be without their superstar Stephen Curry, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. To keep their season alive, the Warriors will need strong performances from their supporting cast—particularly young forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Kuminga has emerged as a key contributor over the last three playoff games, averaging 23.7 points and 3.7 rebounds.
However, just weeks ago, his role was far less certain. He found himself out of the rotation near the end of the regular season and early in the playoffs, raising serious questions about his future with the team.
According to Logan Murdock of The Ringer, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had issues with Kuminga’s decision-making, specifically, instances where he bypassed opportunities to involve Curry in the offense, which led to several benchings and DNPs.
"Despite his talent, Kuminga’s propensity to look for his shot at the expense of the flow of Golden State’s offense has irked the coaching staff," Murdock revealed.
"During a late-season game against the Blazers, team sources say Kerr was incensed after several instances in which Kuminga looked off Curry to create his own offense."
"Kuminga subsequently received DNPs in the Warriors’ regular-season finale against the Clippers and then again in their play-in matchup against the Grizzlies."
"By the start of the playoffs, many within the organization wondered whether Kuminga, who is eligible for an extension, had played his last game as a Warrior," he added.
Kuminga’s recent playoff performances may be shifting the team’s perception of him. However, if the Warriors are eliminated, they’ll face several tough offseason decisions—and moving on from Kuminga could be one of them.
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