Jonathan Kuminga has reached a pivotal crossroads in his NBA career. After a disappointing 2024-25 NBA season with the Golden State Warriors, Kuminga will enter the 2025 offseason as a restricted free agent.
Steve Kerr's rotations did not feature a lot of the young forward until his hand was forced. A hamstring injury to Stephen Curry opened the door for more Kuminga minutes in their second-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwilves.
The fourth-year forward averaged 20.8 points, shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from 3-point in the 4-1 series loss to the Timberwolves. Despite the encouraging play, many believe his future is unlikely to be with Golden State.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards drives past Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards drives past Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Green opens up about Kuminga's future in the NBA
Kuminga's teammate, Draymond Green, loves to talk. The Warriors star has a lot of opinions that he is never shy of sharing with the public.
On his podcast, Green got candid about Kuminga's upcoming contract decision and future.
"You're going to have to evaluate Jonathan Kaminga, right? Like we all know his talent, we all know, we all believe [in what] he could be, but now you have to make a huge financial commitment.
I love JK's answer in this press conference. He said, listen, we all got to sit down. We got to figure it out. It's going to take a while to figure it out, but I appreciate coach Kerr because he's helped me get here where I am at.
And that was such a responsible, great, well thought answer because it's true. Has it always gone the way you want it to go? No, most guys are going to tell you I could do more of this.
They don't let me. Like, that's just the nature of what we do. Right? So we all have our trials and tribulations, our peaks and our valleys. And the reality is what he said is correct.
I love the way he handled it. One thing's for certain, whether it's here or somewhere else, he's going to get paid and he's going to have a very bright future. He proved himself."
-Draymond Green
The key part of Green's message that most are clinging onto is the part about where the four-time champion envisioned Kuminga's future. There was no masking the uncertainty of whether the 2021 first-round pick stays in the Bay Area this summer.