With the Golden State Warriors (3-2) looking to finish off the Houston Rockets in Game 6 on Friday, May 2, Jonathan Kuminga’s availability isn’t necessarily their key ingredient, but having a healthy squad always helps. Kuminga hasn’t played much, but the Warriors have counted on him at times.
Golden State has to be careful with some of its older stars, and if one of them gets hurt, Kuminga is a dependable backup option. Whether he’ll play or not, the Warriors are better off with him active. What is the latest on his status?
Steve Kerr Reveals Latest on Jonathan Kuminga
Kerr revealed where Kuminga is health-wise. The Warriors’ head coach gave details on what Kuminga had been dealing with leading up to Game 6.
“Jonathan Kuminga had a migraine yesterday, feeling better today,” Kerr told reporters, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “[Kuminga] will be available for Game 6.”
The Warriors’ young wing has appeared in only two games in this series — Games 2 and 3 — because Jimmy Butler III was out with a pelvic contusion. With all indications being that Butler will also be available for Game 6 as he was for Games 4 and 5, it’s unlikely Kuminga will play.
That’s not an indictment on Kuminga, but it proves how entrenched Butler is in Kuminga’s role. Golden State turned their season around because of how much of an all-around upgrade Butler is compared to the likes of Kuminga and former player Andrew Wiggins.
Pending any injuries, Kuminga will likely be on the bench unless Game 6 turns into a blowout for either side. Even if they’ve lost two games to the upstart Rockets, the Warriors’ formula has proven to work, so don’t fix what isn’t broken.
Especially in a time like this, when the Warriors can’t afford to take any chances while on the precipice of advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals, this simply might not be the matchup for Kuminga. However, if the Warriors advance, there’s an argument to be made that they could use him against their future playoff opponents.
Kuminga’s athleticism could be handy against a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves, whom the Warriors will face next if they eliminate the Rockets. The Timberwolves play very big, so matching up with Minnesota’s strength could be where Kuminga comes in.
Of course, the Warriors must first beat the Rockets to even think about that. Kuminga likely won’t factor much into how Golden State does in Game 6, but he could play a vital role in the Warriors’ playoff run. The Warriors would have to give him the opportunity first, but Kuminga shouldn’t be slept on regardless.
