After a tough regular season, the Golden State Warriors had to fight for their playoff spot. With a direct playoff entry out of reach, the team faced the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament on April 15. It was a high-stakes showdown, but thanks to the leadership of Stephen Curry and a late spark from Jimmy Butler III, the Warriors secured the win (121-116) and punched their ticket to the playoffs.
Just five days later, they took on the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the first-round series, grabbing a solid victory (95-85) on April 20. Now the Warriors’ head coach has a message for one of the players on the team.
Steve Kerr’s Message to Jonathan Kuminga
As the Warriors prepare for Game 2, Steve Kerr took to “95.7 The Game” for a candid conversation, where his words subtly carried a promise. While praising Jonathan Kuminga, Kerr hinted that the 22-year-old forward remains an integral part of the team’s future, even amid swirling offseason move rumors involving the Brooklyn Nets.
“Jonathan [Kuminga] has been fantastic. His attitude, his energy on the bench, cheering guys on, staying ready. He’s a great, great young guy. This has been tough on him, but he’s doing exactly what he should be doing, which is staying ready,” said Kerr.
“I’ve told him, and our coaches have told him, things can change in a heartbeat in the NBA. He’s got to just be ready for when his time comes, and that’s exactly what he’s doing. I would be surprised if, at some point, his time doesn’t come. When you’re in a good groove, you just keep doing what you’re doing and then you adjust as you go.”
That reassurance comes at a time when Kuminga’s role with the Warriors has been under scrutiny. He hasn’t played since the last regular season game and missed the play-in clash with Memphis. More noticeably, he was benched during Game 1 against Houston, which is an absence that has only fueled speculation about his future.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, Kuminga has battled a lingering ankle injury that forced him to miss 31 games. Despite the setback, he has shown flashes of promise, averaging 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
Still, his limited playoff involvement has left fans questioning his place in the rotation. If healthy and active, Kuminga could provide the Warriors with athleticism, transition scoring, and switchable defense, which are key ingredients when facing teams like the Rockets, who thrive on speed and perimeter play.
Now the main question arises: Will he be playing tonight (April 23)? If we look at the last game Butler played for 42 minutes and Draymond Green played for 37 minutes, which may not be sustainable for a deep playoff run. To take some pressure off the key players, the Warriors might need to bring Kuminga onto the court.
Brooklyn Nets’ Potential in Acquiring Kuminga
Kuminga, who was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, joined the Warriors with high expectations. However, his four-year, $24.855 million rookie contract is set to expire at the end of this season, making him a restricted free agent.
Last fall, Kuminga reportedly sought a contract extension worth $30 million annually. But with the Warriors navigating cap struggles and an aging core, they seem hesitant to commit that much money to a young player who has missed most of this season due to injuries.
Enter the Brooklyn Nets. With over $25+ million in cap space available, the Nets are in a prime position to make a move. Moreover, NBA insider Marc Stein also thinks that the Nets are a probable landing spot for Kuminga.
“The Brooklyn Nets have long loomed as a potential suitor that the Warriors have been monitoring, given the Nets’ projected cap space,” wrote Stein in his Substack.
“Brooklyn’s true level of interest remains to be seen, but Kuminga could not come to terms with Golden State last fall when he was seeking a contract higher than the $30 million in average annual salary that went to fellow Class of 2021 first-round draftees Jalen Suggs (Orlando) and Jalen Johnson (Atlanta).”
Moreover, the Nets’ GM Sean Marks has a proven track record of navigating restricted free agency effectively, making Kuminga’s move to Brooklyn a realistic possibility.
Steve please let that young man go, you are wasting his talent sitting him on the bench.