The saga of Jonathan Kuminga has been one that left fans wondering all season long. The fourth-year star for the Golden State Warriors has been inconsistent in the last two seasons despite showing signs of improvement and growth.
With Kuminga’s rookie contract coming to an end soon, there has been a lot of chatter on his future with the Warriors and if he’ll have a role against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. While there’s no official confirmation either way, it seems like Kuminga’s name will remain a hot topic as the postseason gets underway.
Will Kuminga be able to assist the Warriors in their efforts to win another NBA Championship? That firmly relies on the shoulders of coach Steve Kerr. Kerr hasn’t committed to playing Kuminga thus far, which could be an indication of his future with the team.
Will Kuminga Play Against The Houston Rockets? Steve Kerr explains his decision
While the Rockets boast a lineup of a few players with a vast wingspan, such as Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr., there are some small gaps in their defense that a player like Kuminga could exploit. His explosiveness on the floor could present challenges for the Rockets, as it did earlier in the season when he scored 23 points, 33 points, and 20 points in three separate regular-season meetings.
Despite this, Steve Kerr remains tight-lipped about Kuminga’s role, arguing that he doesn’t see much benefit in utilizing the Kuminga and Jimmy Butler combination, which could limit the amount of minutes that he plays in this series.
“I have to read what we need. I have to read who’s playing well together. And to be very frank, the Jimmy / JK (Kuminga) combination has not been great and that’s the tricky part here. And I’m playing Jimmy 40 minutes a night because Jimmy is, he’s one of the very best players in… pic.twitter.com/vEPBdTCqip
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“I have to read what we need. I have to read who’s playing well together. And to be very frank, the Jimmy / Kuminga combination has not been great and that’s the tricky part here. And I’m playing Jimmy 40 minutes a night because Jimmy is, he’s one of the very best players in the league.”
“And there’s a reason we’re here and we’re in the seventh seed… And the reason is Jimmy and so my job as a coach is to keep the team on a path that I think gives us the best chance to win. And for now, that’s why I’ve been leaning into the lineups that I have.”
Kuminga has the athletic gifts that no one else on the team seems to possess, and if he can find his rhythm in limited playing time against the Rockets, then the sky is the limit. Will that end up happening?
Should The Warriors Retain Kuminga?
While Jonathan Kuminga doesn’t seem likely to make a splash in this series, the Warriors could still benefit from his cutting ability and scoring. If the Warriors do not utilize him at all in the playoffs, the writing is on the wall.
If Kuminga is indeed moved in the offseason, the Warriors will likely try to get someone who can fit what they need, which the 22-year-old hasn’t excelled at yet.
Will Kuminga become an unsung hero against the Rockets? Will he be able to work himself into a sizable contract in the offseason? Or will the story of Kuminga finally lead him out of the Bay Area? Time will tell.