The Golden State Warriors have slowly found their rhythm after a rocky start. With a 23-19 record, they are sitting in eighth place in the standings. It is not terrible. But definitely not where a championship-level team wants to be.
However, there is one issue that just won’t go away. It is the Jonathan Kuminga situation. Now, a former NBA champion isn’t holding back, pointing fingers directly at head coach Steve Kerr.
NBA Champion Made a Bold Claim Regarding the Warriors’ HC Steve Kerr
During a recent episode of the “Road Trippin’ Show,” former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins did not mince words. He made it crystal clear that he believes Kerr is the main reason behind all the drama surrounding Kuminga.
“Steve Kerr is the problem. Period…. No basketball player and real hooper can be at his best if his mind is not in a clear space and his coach doesn’t believe in him… it goes a long way when your coaches believe in you… Steve Kerr is the f*****g problem!” Perkins said during the segment.
This is not the first time Perkins has publicly criticized Kerr over Kuminga’s role. Back in December, the Warriors suffered a 141–127 overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors. That loss stung. But what made it worse was that Kuminga did not even step onto the court.
He was listed as a Coach’s DNP. Basically, Kerr decided he didn’t need him that night. Perkins absolutely went off about this decision. At that time, he criticized Kerr for not recognizing what Kuminga could have brought to the table against Toronto.
“The Warriors are broken!!!! One day, Steve Kerr is going to realize that you need size and athleticism “Kuminga,” to compete against the good teams in the League,” Perkins wrote on X.
When the 2025-26 season tipped off, Kuminga was riding high. He looked confident and actually earned himself a spot in Kerr’s starting five. Everything seemed to be clicking for the young forward. But then something changed.
Gradually and quietly, Kuminga started slipping out of Kerr’s regular rotation. Fewer minutes and more time watching from the bench. According to Kerr’s own explanation, Kuminga has had trouble finding his fit alongside Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green in the current system.
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“I’m disappointed for him that things didn’t continue to go the way they did the first couple of weeks. At the same time, it was going to be tricky to start JK, Jimmy, and Draymond at the two, three, and four. I think anybody can see that’s a tough combination, just based on shooting,” Kerr said in an interview.
Now things have reached a boiling point. ESPN insiders Anthony Slater and Shams Charania recently reported that Kuminga has actually requested a trade from the Warriors. He made this request on the very first day he was eligible to be moved, which tells you everything you need to know about how unhappy he is.
Since then, trade rumors have been flying around. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets have been mentioned as potential landing spots for the talented forward. Whether Kuminga remains in Golden State or is moved elsewhere remains to be seen.
