The Golden State Warriors are searching for answers, and one of the biggest question marks right now is Jonathan Kuminga.
Kuminga’s season has been a rollercoaster-starting games early on, showing flashes of promise, then suddenly finding himself buried on the bench. Injuries didn’t help, but even when healthy, his role has been inconsistent at best. Most recently, he’s logged three straight DNPs following a tough outing against the Cavaliers, where he managed just four points on 1-for-10 shooting.
But despite the recent lack of playing time, there may be a shift coming. Head coach Steve Kerr made it clear this week that Kuminga’s been putting in the work behind the scenes.
“He needs to be back out there,” Kerr said, noting that the young forward has had a strong week of practice. “I’m gonna reward that.”
That’s a significant statement from Kerr-one that suggests the Warriors haven’t closed the book on Kuminga’s impact this season. With the team hovering in an uncertain space, any spark could help, and Kuminga’s athleticism and two-way potential still give him a chance to be that spark.
Still, the situation remains complicated. This isn’t the first time Kuminga’s role has been in flux.
For the past two years, he’s been on a bit of a seesaw-starting some nights, racking up DNPs on others. That inconsistency played a big role in the tension between Kuminga and the organization during the offseason, when there were real questions about his long-term future with the team.
Now, with his name surfacing once again in trade rumors, the Warriors are facing a familiar decision: stay patient with a young player still finding his footing, or explore what he might fetch on the trade market. It’s a tough call, especially for a team trying to balance the present with the future.
For Kuminga, the path forward is clear: keep stacking good practices, seize the next opportunity, and remind the Warriors why they drafted him in the first place. He’s shown flashes-now it’s about consistency, opportunity, and trust.
The Warriors need answers. Maybe Kuminga can still be one of them.