Inside the Breakdown Between Jonathan Kuminga and Steve Kerr: How One Night in Chicago Changed Everything
There wasn’t a single, explosive moment that shattered the relationship between Jonathan Kuminga and Steve Kerr. No shouting match caught on camera, no viral sideline blowup. But if you’re looking for a turning point-the moment things quietly but unmistakably shifted-look no further than a night in Chicago earlier this season.
The Warriors walked away from that game with a comfortable win over the Bulls. But Kuminga?
He never touched the floor. It was the first in a string of DNPs (Did Not Play) that would become a familiar sight on the box score.
And while the team kept pushing forward, Kuminga’s role faded into the background-especially after Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL injury reshaped the Western Conference playoff picture.
The Chicago Flashpoint
After that game, Kerr addressed Kuminga’s absence with a matter-of-fact response: “Pretty much every player in the league will get benched for some games-other than the stars.”
It wasn’t a scathing quote. In fact, it was the kind of coach-speak you hear all the time. But for Kuminga, it hit a nerve.
“That’s the [expletive] I’m talking about,” he reportedly told a reporter. “Why’s he gotta say that?”
That reaction didn’t come out of nowhere. It reflected a deeper disconnect-one that had clearly been simmering beneath the surface.
Whether Kerr meant to single him out or not, Kuminga took it personally. And that tells you how strained things had already become.
A Star in the Making-or a Misfit in the System?
There’s no question Kuminga has flashed star potential. He’s had stretches where his athleticism, defensive versatility, and scoring instincts jump off the screen. But potential only takes you so far in Golden State’s system, where Kerr’s offense thrives on ball movement, spacing, and trust.
Kuminga’s inconsistency-and Kerr’s notoriously short leash with young players-turned into a toxic combination. Every mistake felt magnified.
Every missed rotation or forced shot chipped away at Kerr’s trust. And for Kuminga, every benching felt like a message: you’re not part of the plan.
Ownership, particularly Joe Lacob, reportedly remained high on Kuminga’s upside. There were voices in the building who believed he wasn’t given the developmental runway he needed. But Kerr and the coaching staff saw him differently-not as a future star to be molded, but as a complementary piece, a role player expected to fit into the Warriors’ established framework.
That disconnect in vision-between what Kuminga wanted to become and what the coaching staff needed him to be-was never resolved.
The Final Fracture
By December, things had reached a boiling point. A reported heated meeting between Kerr and Kuminga underscored just how far apart the two sides had drifted.
The trust was gone. The relationship, fractured beyond repair.
From that point on, the writing was on the wall. Kuminga’s minutes remained inconsistent.
The DNPs piled up. And the sense that both sides were simply waiting for the inevitable became impossible to ignore.
What Comes Next-and What It All Means
The Kuminga saga won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Warriors fans will debate it for years.
Did the organization fail to develop a gifted young player? Or did Kuminga fail to adapt to a championship culture that demands sacrifice?
There’s no easy answer. But what’s clear is this: once the DNPs started rolling in, and once that night in Chicago sparked a public reaction, the clock started ticking.
Both sides knew it. And from that moment on, a fresh start became not just inevitable-but necessary.