The Golden State Warriors have been one of the quietest teams since the start of the 2025 offseason, mainly due to their ongoing contract standoff with young forward Jonathan Kuminga. Their latest offer—a one-year, $7.9 million qualifying deal—represents a significant financial undervaluation for a player who recently proved capable of being the team’s lead scorer in a playoff series.
Naturally, due to this uncertainty, the team hasn’t been able to make acquisition and roster decisions on Al Horford and Gary Payton II, who are awaiting clarity at this point, while players like Dalano Balton and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who have already worked out for the team, keenly await a response. As a result, Kendrick Perkins wants Kuminga to realize the true picture of the Warriors, giving every possible indication that they wish for him to part ways.
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Perkins wants Kuminga to understand the Warriors’ signals
Despite Kuminga averaging 16.1 points in the 2023-24 season, head coach Steve Kerr showed limited trust in him last season, playing him in just 47 games and granting him even fewer minutes. Still, when Stephen Curry was sidelined for the team’s second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kuminga stepped up to average a team-high 20.8 points per game. Despite that breakout performance, the Warriors have shown no significant interest in rewarding his efforts financially.
Thus, for Perkings, the situation is as frustrating as it is clear. With training camps just weeks away and Kuminga still uncertain about his future, he emphasized how the 22-year-old forward should consider the repeated disrespect of being left out of the starting lineup, not being involved in games, and eventually taking his talents elsewhere.
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“I don’t know if Jonathan Kuminga watches NBA Today, but they don’t want you, dawg. They don’t value you because if they did, you wouldn’t be going through this,” Perkins said on an episode of NBA Today. “It started last season, Steve Kerr showed you how he felt about you when you were out of rotation during the Play-In Tournament and in the first couple of games in the first round against the Rockets.”
Kuminga should move out
Golden State is determined to chase another championship with its established core of Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, a plan in which Kuminga does not appear to fit. So, it’s best for Kuminga to head into a franchise where he gets consistent playing time, an opportunity to grow, and eventually commands a contract that matches his potential.
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So who knows, it’s ideal for him to consider non-championship contending teams like the Brooklyn Nets, who reportedly have the cap space to offer him upwards of $20 million annually, motivating him to attain his All-Star ceiling.
That said, this standoff only showcases how cruel the scenario in the NBA can get. Despite a player giving his all for a franchise that drafted him, it doesn’t have to be the case that they will ensure your growth or reward you with a lucrative contract.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.