It didn’t take long for the Golden State Warriors to lose their steam once Stephen Curry was sidelined with a hamstring injury at the start of the second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Curry’s injury paved the way for Kuminga to get extra minutes, and while he did score 30, 23, and 26 points in the final three games, the Warriors eventually lost 4-1.
Kuminga will become an unrestricted free agent after the season, and while he was once expected to get a massive extension, the youngster has had a tense relationship with the Warriors’ head coach, Steve Kerr, and is unsure about his future in Golden State.
Jonathan Kuminga Admits To Tense Relationship With Head Coach Steve Kerr
Towards the end of the 2024-25 regular season and as the postseason began, fans noticed that Kerr was giving Kuminga fewer minutes on the court. While many initially believed this was due to the midseason trade for forward Jimmy Butler, a new report reveals a different reasoning for Kuminga’s lack of playing time.
Logan Murdock of The Ringer reported that Kuminga’s desire to look for his own shot “irked” Kerr and the coaching staff, who felt the forward’s style of play hampered the Warriors’ offense. Kerr would grow furious, so he ultimately decided to bench him.
After Curry sustained a hamstring injury in Game 1 of the Warriors’ second-round series against the Timberwolves, Kerr had no choice but to put Kuminga on the court in order to generate offense for the Warriors. The 22-year-old made the most of his opportunities, but it was never going to be enough for the Warriors in Curry’s absence.
Kuminga addressed his relationship with Kerr during the exit interviews after getting eliminated by the Timberwolves, and admitted it hadn’t been a smooth ride.
“There was some ups and downs,” Kuminga said. “That’s how life goes. But I had fun. I had a great time. I enjoy playing here. Yeah, there was some ups and downs.”
Jonathan Kuminga on his relationship with Steve Kerr: “We’ve had ups and downs. But he helped me to get here.”
Kuminga kept answers about his future vague: “I don’t know.” pic.twitter.com/tIvzjuZihQ
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater)
Kuminga also addressed his future with the Warriors, but only offered vague answers.
“I don’t know what the future is gonna be,” Kuminga said. “That’s something that any player would love to hear, going into a different year. I’m looking forward to that. I know it’s going to happen.”
Kuminga currently appears to be unsure about his future with the Warriors, and it’s looking increasingly clear that his days with the Warriors may be numbered.
Reports are already predicting that Kuminga will be in a sign-and-trade with the Warriors this offseason, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds. In PFSN’s Top-30 NBA Free Agent Rankings, Kuminga is the 10th-ranked player available this offseason.