Steve Kerr didn’t have any trouble offering a measured response to Jonathan Kuminga’s new chapter with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After Golden State and Minnesota met Wednesday night for the first time since the trade, Kerr was asked about the forward who once had a rocky run with the Warriors and is now trying to carve out a bigger role elsewhere. His answer was supportive, even if the history behind it still hangs in the background.
“He's, like most young players, really learning and growing and getting better. So, as I said, more power to him. I want him to have a great career and this seems like a good spot,” Kerr said.
Kuminga responded with a solid outing against his former team, finishing with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting, along with three rebounds, five assists, two steals and three 3-pointers in the loss to the Warriors. NBC Sports noted that Kuminga should get more opportunity in Minnesota and that the performance was the kind of night that could become more common for him there.
The move brought an end to a long and uneven stretch in Golden State. ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported that “The Golden State Warriors have agreed to trade forward Jonathan Kuminga and guard Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for veteran center Kristaps Porzingis, league sources told ESPN on Wednesday night,” and added that “The trade ends Kuminga's five-season roller-coaster tenure with Golden State.”
The Warriors have long built around developing their own talent, with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson standing as the clearest examples. Kuminga never fit that same smooth path. His time in Golden State had been wearing on both sides for a while, and the offseason situation, including his agent’s involvement, only added more tension.
Kerr’s comments were diplomatic, and they sounded like the words of a coach who knows the divorce is already done. He also made it clear that he believes Minnesota is the right place for Kuminga.
Whether either side still has hard feelings is another question, but neither appears interested in saying so out loud. For now, both the player and the franchise seem ready to move on.
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