Jonathan Kuminga is facing an uncertain future with the Warriors. The Golden State Warriors had a less-than-ideal season that ended with Stephen Curry injuring his ankle in the semifinals of the Western Conference against the Minnesota Timberwolves. When Steve Kerr called upon Jonathan Kuminga after the Curry injury, he delivered a few stellar performances, where he averaged 26.3 points per game. His role in San Francisco has diminished over the last season, particularly since the Jimmy Butler trade. And now, the Warriors are faced with a decision: keep Kuminga or trade him away?
Jonathan Kuminga has shown consistent improvement
Jonathan Kuminga has an interesting backstory. He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and at age 13, his parents decided to put their faith in their young son and move to the US so Jonathan could pursue a career in basketball. Young Jonathan played for several high schools and opted to skip a college education, and joined the NBA G-League with the Ignite.
Jonathan was then drafted by the Golden State Warriors as the 7th overall pick in the 2021 Draft. The fairytale continued for young Jonathan as in his rookie year, he won a championship with the Golden State Warriors. From there, it appeared that Steve Kerr was loving what he was getting from Kuminga, and his playing time increased in Golden State, starting 46 of 74 games and averaging 16.1 points per game.
This year is when it all fell apart for Jonathan Kuminga
Following a strong showing in the 2023-24 season, the expectations were that Jonathan Kuminga would continue his excellent form for the Warriors. But as we all saw, this season did not deliver the kind of results we expected for Golden State. Kuminga saw his playing time reduced, especially when the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler from the Heat in an attempt to turn their season around.
What are the options for the Warriors regarding Jonathan Kuminga?
Now we are not saying that the Warriors will trade Kuminga, but the likelihood of Kuminga playing elsewhere next season is considerably high. If the Warriors are interested in keeping him, they should offer him a $7.9 million qualifying offer before June 29. If not, they will probably facilitate a sign-and-trade deal with another team.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks spoke to Golden State Warriors General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr regarding the Jonathan Kuminga situation, and he had the following to say:
“I know how we can work with him better. But in terms of guessing how it’s all going to play out or what the contract might look like or sign-and-trades and things like that, honestly, I’d be totally guessing at this point.”
The rumored destination for Jonathan Kuminga is the Brooklyn Nets. Bobby Marks stated that if it were up to him, he would offer the young forward a three-year, $81 million deal with the final year as a player option. High praise from Marks, but Kuminga has only begun to show the NBA what he is capable of, so a big-money deal could potentially be in his future.
What does the future hold in store for Jonathan Kuminga?
Whether he stays in San Francisco or the Warriors opt not to offer him a new contract, Kuminga has a bright future in the NBA. His amazing backstory is the stuff of legends, and he has consistently displayed considerable willpower and determination to become a better player. The fact that he even made it to the NBA is a miracle on its own. As the season winds down, the fans and highly paid media personalities are preparing for next season. Jonathan Kuminga will no doubt be feeling a level of anxiety surrounding his future, but we can all rest assured that he has a future in the NBA, where that might be, is yet to be determined.
