Jonathan Kuminga’s ongoing situation in Golden State has officially crossed the line from a curious coaching decision to a full-blown storyline - and not the kind the Warriors wanted heading into the second half of the season.
What started as a subtle shift in the rotation has now stretched into a month-long absence from the court for a healthy, available player. Kuminga hasn’t logged a single minute since mid-December, and while the Warriors have maintained a “nothing to see here” approach, the silence is starting to echo louder than any official statement.
The tension broke into the open recently when Kendrick Perkins - never one to bite his tongue - took direct aim at Steve Kerr, calling the situation what he sees it: a trust issue, not a basketball one.
“Steve Kerr is the problem. Period,” Perkins said, pulling no punches. “No basketball player and real hooper can be at his best if his mind is not in a clear space and his coach don’t believe in him… it goes a long way when your coaches believe in you.”
That kind of statement doesn’t come lightly, especially from a former player who understands the mental side of the NBA grind. Perkins didn’t chalk this up to a bad fit or a mismatch of timelines - he framed it as a breakdown in belief between coach and player, and he’s not alone in voicing concern.
Perkins has been vocal about the Warriors’ internal dynamics for weeks now, pointing to a larger pattern since the departure of longtime GM Bob Myers. In his eyes, Kuminga’s benching isn’t just about one player - it’s symbolic of a franchise that’s struggled to develop its young core while still chasing titles with its aging stars. And with the trade deadline looming, the optics of this standoff are only getting worse.
Meanwhile, inside the Warriors’ locker room, there’s been no public drama. Teammates have kept things professional, and Kerr has stuck to his steady messaging. After a recent win, he downplayed the idea that the Kuminga situation is weighing on the team.
“It won’t be a distraction,” Kerr said. “Jonathan’s a great young guy.
His teammates like him. He’s handling himself well.
There won’t be a distraction.”
Kerr has also denied any rift between himself and Kuminga, insisting their relationship remains intact and that this is just part of the business. But the facts are hard to ignore - Kuminga hasn’t played in weeks, his role has disappeared, and there’s no clear path back into the rotation.
This isn’t just about minutes anymore. It’s about messaging.
The Warriors are walking a fine line between maintaining internal harmony and potentially alienating a key piece of their future. Kuminga is still just 21, a former lottery pick with explosive athleticism and two-way potential.
For a team that’s trying to bridge eras - still leaning on Steph, Klay and Draymond while grooming the next generation - how they handle a situation like this matters.
Other teams are watching. Trade chatter is already swirling, and rival front offices are waiting for any sign of leverage. If Golden State can’t find a way to either reintegrate Kuminga or move him in a deal that brings back real value, this could turn from a personnel issue into a franchise misstep.
For now, the Warriors are trying to keep things steady. But the longer Kuminga sits, the louder the questions get. And with each passing game, it becomes harder to ignore the growing disconnect between the calm coming from Kerr and the frustration bubbling up everywhere else.