The tension between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors isn’t exactly new-but it’s certainly heating up. What started as a promising partnership between a high-upside draft pick and a championship-caliber franchise has turned into one of the more puzzling disconnects in the NBA. Despite inking a deal with Golden State, Kuminga’s role remains inconsistent, and the friction between player and team seems to be growing louder by the week.
Last season, Kuminga’s minutes were all over the place, and this year hasn’t brought much more clarity. He’s shown flashes-athleticism, scoring bursts, defensive versatility-but those flashes haven’t translated into a stable spot in Steve Kerr’s rotation. For a 21-year-old with the tools to be a two-way force, that’s raised eyebrows around the league.
Now, a new wrinkle has emerged. According to team sources, there was internal debate within the Warriors' organization during the 2021 NBA Draft.
Head coach Steve Kerr reportedly preferred Franz Wagner, who ultimately went eighth to the Orlando Magic. Instead, the Warriors selected Kuminga seventh overall, aiming to inject the roster with athleticism and future star power as part of a post-Curry foundation that also included James Wiseman.
That draft decision is starting to look like a fault line in the relationship. Wagner has blossomed into a key piece in Orlando’s rebuild-skilled, polished, and productive-while Kuminga continues to search for consistency in both opportunity and performance. And when your head coach is rumored to have wanted someone else, it adds a layer of complexity that’s hard to ignore.
The chatter around Kuminga has only intensified since he became trade-eligible. Analysts and insiders are buzzing about potential destinations, and the league is watching closely. He’s the kind of player who could thrive in a new setting-long, athletic, and capable of scoring in bunches when given the leash.
Austin Rivers didn’t hold back when weighing in on the situation. On a recent podcast appearance, he called Kuminga’s lack of playing time “bullsh*t” and suggested the situation feels personal.
“This is a 20-point-per-game caliber player,” Rivers said. “I know this because he’s done it.
He is a freak talent and athlete. How the hell can this guy not get a minute on a sorry a** Warriors team?
It drives me crazy.”
Rivers isn’t alone in his frustration. Around the league, there’s a growing sense that Kuminga’s development is being stifled-not by his own limitations, but by a team that hasn’t figured out how to fully integrate him. Whether that’s a coaching issue, a system fit, or something deeper, it’s clear that something isn’t clicking.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are treading water. They sit eighth in the Western Conference at 23-19, still searching for rhythm in a crowded playoff race. Their next test comes at home against the Charlotte Hornets, and with every game, the spotlight on this team-and on Kuminga-gets a little brighter.
There’s no easy fix here. But one thing’s certain: the Warriors have a decision to make.
Either they find a way to unlock Kuminga’s potential in their system, or they move him to a team that will. Because letting a talent like this waste away on the bench?
That’s not just a missed opportunity-it’s a mistake that could haunt them down the line.