The Golden State Warriors have been desperately searching for answers amidst a frustrating slump that has seen them lose 10 of their last 13 games. Head coach Steve Kerr recently delivered his most pointed criticism yet about the shot selection and decision-making of the team’s young players, particularly fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga. On Monday night against the Indiana Pacers, the 22-year-old prospect responded with one of his most aggressive and efficient performances of the season.
Kuminga Shines in Sixth Man Role
Coming off the bench for the third straight game after a brief stint in the starting lineup, Kuminga looked like a man on a mission. He poured in a game-high 26 points on an impressive 9-of-16 shooting, attacking the rim with ferocity and showcasing the elite athleticism that made him the 7th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
This is the JK we want. Spent a lot of time in the paint, took care of the ball. Had a couple really nice passes. Found Buddy [Hield] for 3 on a beautiful play and really attacked. So this is a great example of how JK needs to play.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr
In addition to his scoring outburst, Kuminga pulled down 8 rebounds and dished out 4 assists in 28 minutes of action. His energy and effort on both ends of the floor drew praise from teammates and coaches alike.
Curry Applauds Kuminga’s Effort
Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, who had an uncharacteristically poor shooting night himself, made it a point to highlight Kuminga’s impact and decisiveness:
Anytime you’re decisive and aggressive, you live with mistakes. But playing in the flow of the offense, taking what the defense gives you, you saw him get into the paint, get a couple extra possessions for us, he knocked down his open 3s, was getting downhill, putting pressure on the rim, doing things that only he can do really on our team.
Stephen Curry on Jonathan Kuminga’s performance
On one especially noteworthy sequence in the fourth quarter, Kuminga buried a corner three-pointer and then single-handedly kept the next offensive possession alive by snaring two offensive rebounds and drawing a foul. That kind of relentless activity is exactly what Kerr and the coaching staff have been imploring from the young forward.
Handling Fluctuating Role with Maturity
Earlier this month, Kerr had announced that Kuminga would take over as the Warriors’ starting power forward, emphasizing the need to maximize the athletic forward’s potential. But after six games, Kerr moved Kuminga back to the bench, opting for the veteran presences of Draymond Green and Kevon Looney to set a stronger defensive tone.
Rather than pout or lose confidence, Kuminga has taken the lineup shuffling in stride. The 22-year-old credits his mental toughness and ability to stay focused on controlling what he can control.
Sometimes I start, sometimes I don’t start. Don’t really affect me. [At] this point my career, I can’t put my head down and not go out there and play hard or try to be effective. I just go out there and do my job because I can’t even worry about things like that.
Jonathan Kuminga on his fluctuating role
The Aggressive Kuminga the Warriors Need
If the Warriors hope to break out of their current skid and re-establish themselves as true title contenders, they will need Kuminga’s size, athleticism and two-way potential to manifest on a consistent basis. His ability to put pressure on the rim as a cutter and secondary playmaker could provide a much-needed release valve alongside Curry and the rest of the Warriors’ motion offense.
With Monday’s performance, Kuminga provided a tantalizing glimpse of the force he can become by embracing an attacking mindset within the flow of the Warriors’ system. Over the final few months of the regular season, his continued development as an efficient, aggressive and decisive presence could prove instrumental to Golden State’s playoff aspirations. As Kerr aptly summarized, this is the version of Jonathan Kuminga that can elevate the Warriors’ ceiling: “We love energetic, confident JK. He can change the game for us like he did and stringing a couple of those games together will hopefully raise our level of play and give us a chance to win any given night.”
