Jonathan Kuminga was finally dealt ahead of the NBA trade deadline after what felt like a lengthy standoff between him and the Golden State Warriors. Now, the forward has impressed fans with his performance in his debut for his new team, the Atlanta Hawks. After the game, the Congolese forward was asked about his fit with his new team.
Jonathan Kuminga Gives Coaches and Teammates a Shoutout
Kuminga and Buddy Hield were traded for Kristaps Porziņģis, ending the Congolese forward’s stint with the Warriors at four-and-a-half seasons. However, he was not able to play for his new team immediately. He sustained a bone bruise in his left knee on Jan. 22 against the Dallas Mavericks, which kept him out of action for over a month.
On Tuesday, he made his long-awaited debut for the Hawks, and he did not disappoint. He came off the bench and played over 24 minutes, recording 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. His contributions helped the team secure the 119-98 win over the Washington Wizards.
During the postgame press conference, he was asked how he felt about his debut game and his fit on the team.
“I feel great having coaches and teammates that trust me, who were pushing me through my rehab to get to this point,” Kuminga said. “I think I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them, so I appreciate them for being there every single day with me. I’m just very excited to be here. I’m here now, let’s figure it out.”
Kuminga’s Hawks debut already ranks among his top 10 scoring performances, so far. During his time with the Warriors, he scored 27 or more points only eight times. If he continues to play this way, it won’t be long before he surpasses his career high of 34 points.
He also caught fire at the perfect moment for the team, plugging the hole left by Jalen Johnson.
The Hawks’ All-Star forward got hurt in the first quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game. He ended up playing for just under six minutes, scoring 5 points on 2-for-4 shooting. Later, it was announced that he sustained an injury to his left hip flexor.
He would be re-evaluated ahead of their game on Thursday, which will also be against the Wizards. So far, there haven’t been any updates regarding his status and whether he’ll miss time due to this latest injury. The 29-31 Hawks play against the Wizards again on Thursday night.
