The Golden State Warriors may have picked up a dominant 123–91 win over the Chicago Bulls, but much of the conversation afterward centered on a player who never touched the floor.
Jonathan Kuminga, once viewed as a rising cornerstone for the franchise, recorded a DNP–CD on Sunday — his first healthy scratch of the season, sparking a wave of frustration and outright resignation from the Warriors fanbase.
Fans Explode Online as Jonathan Kuminga Receives DNP
Kuminga’s absence wasn’t entirely surprising given the direction his season has taken. After logging 30+ minutes in six of his first nine games, his playing time has steadily evaporated.
The inconsistency mirrors last season, when he slipped in and out of the rotation before dropping out entirely during stretches of the postseason.
This downturn also comes months after a tense contract standoff during the offseason. Kuminga ultimately returned on a two-year, $48.5 million deal — one that prevents him from being traded until January 15, due to CBA rules that affect players who re-sign for 20% more while their teams remain over the cap.
Sunday’s DNP only intensified concerns that friction between the coaching staff and Kuminga may be simmering. Steve Kerr explained the decision broadly:
“It happens to everybody pretty much other than the stars. Guys come in and out of the rotation depending on who’s available and how the team’s playing.”
But Warriors fans weren’t buying it. Social media immediately ignited:
One fan flat-out said: “It’s over,” declaring that the situation felt like the beginning of the end.
Others urged the front office to make a move: “Just trade the guy Dunleavy. It’s clear Steve is intent on torpedoing his trade value.”
One fan, convinced that the pattern of benching Kuminga in decisive moments signaled an inevitable split, wrote:
“He went from a staple in the starting lineup to DNP. The cycle continues and the trade deadline can’t come soon enough. For Moody’s sake, I hope he’s shipped with him”
Another expressed a mix of frustration and spiteful hope, adding, “I hope Kerr is around when Kuminga returns after finally being traded and drops 40 on them.”
One fan lamented that Golden State didn’t let him pursue one of the trade opportunities, “Should’ve just let JK go to the Kings or Suns like he wanted.”
Summing up the frustration, another Kuminga fan urged: “Trade him on Jan. 15 idgaf.”
The frustration is rooted in a clear trend: Kuminga hasn’t played a fourth-quarter minute in the latest games, including the losses to the Thunder and 76ers earlier this week.
While fan speculation has reached full tilt, it’s important to note that Kuminga cannot legally be traded until January 15 due to the terms of his new contract. Any hypothetical move must wait until that date, though the chatter suggests many expect the Warriors to explore the option immediately.
The situation has taken on added weight because of Kerr’s recent approach. Kerr benched both Brandin Podziemski and Kuminga for the entire 4th quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Before the Warriors’ game in Cleveland, Kerr laid out specific expectations for both Podziemski and Kuminga as per Marc Grandi.
Podziemski responded with strong play, but Kuminga did not, at least in the eyes of the coaching staff, and the result was Sunday’s benching.
For a 23-year-old who once appeared poised to leap into a full-time, high-impact role, the regression is stark.
As January 15 approaches, all eyes will remain on Kuminga — whether he re-enters the rotation, or whether Golden State finally decides that the experiment has run its course.
