Jonathan Kuminga’s latest performance has sparked debate across the NBA world, and one former player didn’t hold back. A viral comment has put the spotlight back on the Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and his controversial rotation decisions. Is this about coaching philosophy or player potential? Let’s see where Kerr and Kuminga stand.
Kendrick Perkins’ Unfiltered Take on Jonathan Kuminga and Steve Kerr’s Rotation
Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back on social media after Kuminga’s 23-point showing in Game 4 of the Warriors-Timberwolves series.
“I hope Kuminga get the hell away from Steve Kerr. He’s not the Coach for this young talented and Athletic young Star,” Perkins wrote, adding that Kuminga “really need an opportunity to spread his wings” because Kerr “had this man outta of the rotation.”
I hope Kuminga get the hell away from Steve Kerr. He’s not the Coach for this young talented and Athletic young Star. He really need an opportunity to spread his wings. Kerr really had this man outta of the rotation.
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins)
Perkins’ comments come as Golden State faces more questions about its rotation after trading for Jimmy Butler in February 2025. With Butler joining Steph Curry as primary shot creators, Kerr leaned heavily into perimeter shooting. That has led to “lineup conflicts with Kuminga and Draymond Green due to their lack of perimeter shooting,” as noted by Gabe Fernandez of SFGATE.
This isn’t Perkins’ first shot at Kerr. Earlier this season, he publicly urged Kerr to trust Kuminga’s athleticism, saying the young forward was “too damn athletic” to be riding the bench.
Perkins’ latest remarks highlight a bigger question: Should the Warriors tweak Kerr’s rotation to lean into Kuminga’s explosive play, or is Kuminga just not the right fit for Golden State’s read-and-react system?
Kuminga’s Explosive Performance Raises Questions
With Curry out due to a hamstring injury, Kuminga stepped up in Game 4. He scored 23 points in just 25 minutes off the bench, hit 11 free throws, and showed better decision-making. Still, the Warriors lost 117-110, falling behind 3-1 in the series.
The night before, Kuminga had dropped 30 points in Game 3, showing he can create his own shot and finish through contact. NBA analyst Zach Lowe called the performance proof that Kuminga can deliver when given the chance — and questioned why the coaching staff hadn’t developed him sooner, even joking about Kerr’s lineup choices.
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Even Kerr has been open about the challenge of pairing Kuminga with Butler.
“I have to read who’s playing well together, and to be very frank, the Jimmy, JK combination has not been great and that’s the tricky part here,” Kerr told 95.7 The Game in April.
But after back-to-back big games, critics say it’s time for Kerr to find a way to balance spacing with athleticism.
As Golden State fights to stay alive in Minnesota, the conversation around Kuminga’s role is gaining steam. If the Warriors move on, Kerr might need to get creative with his rotations — or risk wasting one of the team’s most promising young players.
The big question is this: Can Kerr evolve his system to unlock Kuminga’s talent, or will the young forward stay boxed in by Golden State’s established approach?
Evaluating Kuminga’s Upcoming Free Agency
This offseason, Kuminga will be a restricted free agent, so perhaps he’ll have an opportunity to follow Perkins’ fiery advice and “get the hell away” from Kerr.
In PFSN’s Top-30 NBA Free Agent Rankings, Kuminga is ranked as the 10th-best player available this offseason.
“A major ankle injury stalled Jonathan Kuminga’s fourth season, and the fit hasn’t been the cleanest since he returned after the Jimmy Butler trade. Still, a 22-year-old averaging over 15 points per game who shot over 50% from the field in each of his first three seasons will be seen as a valuable commodity,” Sterling Xie wrote.
“Kuminga is a restricted free agent, and Golden State likely views him as part of their long-term plans given the franchise’s reluctance to include him in the Butler trade. However, a big offer from a cap-rich team like the Brooklyn Nets could put Golden State in a tough spot.”
In PFSN’s Best Landing Spots For the Top-30 NBA Free Agents, Xie highlighted the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets as teams that could try to pry Kuminga away from Golden State.
“The Warriors would surely love to keep Jonathan Kuminga, their most promising lottery pick from the last five years. Kuminga is only a restricted free agent, so Golden State is in a good spot to keep him around (especially since he holds plenty of trade value if the Warriors need to make another splash),” Xie wrote.
“The Nets are the only team with enough cap space right now to overwhelm a restricted free agent with an offer sheet. Brooklyn could use Kuminga’s defense and athleticism, and the 22-year-old would also fit in with the team’s timeline. The Nets ranked 28th in paint points per game this season and 26th in field goal percentage at the rim.
“The Heat have typically gone for older stars, but perhaps Miami could seek to retool around a younger core if they come up empty in the trade market. The Heat ranked 27th in points per game in the restricted area, where Kuminga’s athleticism and finishing ability could help.”
Time for JK to sprout his wings elsewhere Kerr hasn’t used him correctly