Jonathan Kuminga wants to leave the Golden State Warriors because he knows head coach Steve Kerr doesn’t want him, according to NBA reporter Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Kuminga remains a restricted free agent. The Warriors offered the forward a three-year, $75.2 million deal with a team option in the third season last week. Kuminga declined the offer because he prefers a player option over a team option.
Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, presented a three-year, $82 million offer — including a player option — to the Warriors. The front office, led by general manager Mike Dunleavy, rejected it.
Kuminga doesn’t have a good relationship with Kerr, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.
Kuminga’s qualifying offer is worth $7.9 million. If he signs it, the swingman would have a no-trade clause for the 2025-26 season and enter unrestricted free agency next offseason.
Multiple teams will have cap space next summer to pursue Kuminga, who averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks for the Warriors last season in 47 games. He shot 45.4% from the field, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line.
The 22-year-old Kuminga was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He has career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Warriors.
Golden State defeated the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in seven games but lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round in five games. Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks in the 2025 playoffs.
Kerr was forced to play Kuminga in the Rockets series because Jimmy Butler missed Game 3 with an injury.
Kuminga only played in the Timberwolves series because Stephen Curry got injured in Game 1 and missed Games 2, 3, 4 and 5.