Jonathan Kuminga’s early run with the Minnesota Timberwolves is giving the Golden State Warriors a familiar kind of vindication.
He’ll see his old team Wednesday night, but the version of Kuminga taking the floor for Minnesota looks a lot more like the player Steve Kerr and the Warriors believed he could be: a productive, useful piece who fits into a winning group without needing the spotlight.
Kuminga has opened his Timberwolves stint with 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists across his first four games after signing a two-year, $12.4 million deal in free agency. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but they’ve come with efficiency and real value attached. He’s helping on the glass, defending, and doing the small things that matter inside a rotation.
Minnesota has rolled through its first three opponents - the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors - before dropping an overtime game to the Cleveland Cavaliers on the second night of a back-to-back. Through those four games, the Timberwolves have been a +62 in Kuminga’s 119 minutes, which ranks third on the team behind Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards.
The shooting has been encouraging, too. Kuminga is hitting 46.7% from three-point range, and he has 10 assists against just one turnover so far this season. The one rough edge has come at the line, where his free-throw issues showed up again when he missed a crucial one late in regulation against Cleveland.
This is where the story gets interesting, because Kuminga’s start doesn’t really read as revenge on Kerr or the Warriors. It reads as proof that they saw the right role for him all along.
Golden State wanted him to be a high-end role player, someone whose athleticism and skill could slot into a larger machine. Kuminga, though, wanted something bigger.
There’s also a possible wrinkle ahead for Minnesota. Kuminga is currently sixth on the team in scoring, but Anthony Edwards’ knee injury could change that fast. Edwards underwent a procedure on his right knee and could be out up to two months, which could open the door for more offensive responsibility and usage for Kuminga.
If that happens, the next question becomes how his efficiency and overall impact hold up when the load gets heavier.
The Warriors will get their first close look at that version of Kuminga on Wednesday night in Minnesota.
In Other News...
Steph Curry Weighed In On A Valkyries Rival Crossing The Line
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Curry also addressed McBrides use of his signature Night Night celebration in a previous game against the Golden State Valkyries, adding another layer to a running crossover between the two leagues. McBrides big night, along with the ongoing 2026 WNBA Finals matchup between the Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream, has kept the spotlight on how much these moments resonate across basketball, even when the particulars still leave plenty of room for the next chapter. [Read more 🡒]
Brandin Podziemski Just Gave Warriors Fans A Reason To Watch Closer
Brandin Podziemski is already giving the Warriors something to watch closely after a quiet start to the season. In Golden States 119-114 win over the Timberwolves, the second-year guard chipped in eight points, six assists and five rebounds, a useful all-around line for a player still getting his footing after missing the opener with a back injury.
The more interesting part may be where Podziemski is trying to take his game next. He said he spent the offseason studying Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunsons tape, with an emphasis on creating more threes and getting to the free-throw line, which is a promising sign for a Warriors team that could use another guard who can help organize the offense and pressure defenses in a different way. If this early glimpse is any indication, Podziemskis development is going to be worth tracking. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Kerr's Kuminga Comments Reopen A Warriors Split That Still Stings
Jonathan Kumingas return to the spotlight against his old team served as another reminder of how much the Warriors once invested in him, even if that chapter ended with a trade to Atlanta before he eventually landed in Minnesota. Kuminga looked comfortable in the matchup and turned in a solid performance, while Golden State watched a former young cornerstone now trying to carve out his next chapter elsewhere. For a franchise that spent years trying to mold his game, seeing him on the opposite sideline still carries a little extra weight.
Steve Kerr only added to that feeling with his recent comments, which came across as both appreciative and a little wistful. The Warriors coach spoke positively about Kumingas development and the situation hes in with the Timberwolves, a reminder that the organization still sees the talent that once made him such an important piece of its future. Even with the roster move long in the rearview, the split continues to linger because it speaks to a broader question Golden State never fully answered with one of its most intriguing young players. [Read more 🡒]