Jonathan Kuminga's journey with the Atlanta Hawks began with a bit of a hiccup due to a left knee bone bruise, an injury he carried over from his time with the Golden State Warriors. This setback delayed his debut, but when he finally hit the court against the Washington Wizards, Kuminga made sure everyone took notice.
In his first game with the Hawks, Kuminga showcased his scoring prowess, racking up an impressive 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, all in just 24 minutes. This performance marked the highest scoring debut by a Hawks reserve since the 1970-71 season. Not a bad way to announce your arrival.
Amidst the excitement of his debut, social media buzzed with rumors about a supposed Instagram story where Kuminga allegedly hinted at his former team, the Warriors, making a mistake. However, a closer inspection of his posts that night showed nothing of the sort, debunking the viral claims as mere fabrications.
Kuminga's on-court performance was enough to drown out any off-court noise. His ability to make an immediate impact off the bench speaks volumes about his potential with the Hawks. Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas even chimed in on his podcast, advising Warriors coach Steve Kerr not to underestimate Kuminga’s one-on-one skills in their future matchups.
Kuminga's time with the Warriors was not without its challenges. Reports suggested that there was initial hesitation from Steve Kerr, who reportedly favored Franz Wagner in the draft. This, coupled with Kuminga's multiple benchings, raised questions about his fit with the team.
Now, with the Hawks, Kuminga has a fresh start and a golden opportunity to showcase his true value. If his debut is any indication, Atlanta fans have plenty to be excited about.