“Jonathan Kuminga has elevated his level of play… Defensively, [the Warriors have] really stepped up… If Klay Thompson finds his shot again with Steph Curry playing the way he’s playing… It changes everything.” —Stephen A. Smith 🙌 (via @ESPN / YT)
A few weeks ago, there were many rumors about the Golden State Warriors making some big changes ahead of the NBA trade deadline. But one thing was certain: the team wouldn't let go of Stephen Curry, their biggest star. Everyone else was expandable, according to reports.
Actually, the front office was eager to hold onto one other star: Jonathan Kuminga. That's a surprising change for Kuminga, who was seen as a very likely trade asset just a few months before.
Earlier in the season, insiders were saying that Kuminga was very unhappy with his role on the team and the way that head coach Steve Kerr was using him. This led to a pivotal conversation between the player and coach, and it turned things around.
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“I just told him how I feel, he told me how he feels. Things he wanted me to do more to get more playing time. After that, just going out there and just enjoying it, enjoying playing for him,” Kuminga told Yahoo Sports.
He added: “He’s coaching me harder. Sometimes you don’t understand things until it comes to your eyes. Somebody wants great things for you, that’s why they coach you harder. I think that’s what it was, just him coaching me harder every time because he wants great things from me. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be on this court. I wouldn’t have this type of spirit to go out there and play.”
Since that chat with Kerr, Kuminga's output on the court has exploded in a huge and crucial way. He is now averaging 15.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, shooting 53.4% from the floor. And the Warriors have continued to get better as Kuminga has gotten more time on the court and felt more comfortable with his position in the roster.
There are still many questions about the future of the Warriors but Kuminga will likely be a very solid and reliable part of the team moving forward.
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