One of the more intriguing storylines this season is the relationship between up-and-coming forward Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors.
Although he recently ended his standoff with the Dubs by signing a two-year deal that would pay him $48.5 million, many aren’t convinced he’ll be staying long-term, mainly because he won’t be able to reach his full potential so long as the old guard — Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green — is still in town.
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However, it doesn’t mean this marriage won’t work, as former NBA champion coach Michael Malone surmised that mending the strained relationship between Kuminga and the Warriors will take transparency and honest-to-goodness communication.
Communication will be key
Malone can be considered an expert in dealing with precocious young players, as he worked with one, Michael Porter Jr., during his time with the Nuggets. He revealed that, as with managing any player on the team, effective communication will be essential.
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“It comes down to communication. Steve’s come out and said it — that communication is key. He and Kuminga have a relationship, but they’ve got to sit down in a room,” Malone shared.
Kuminga has made no secret of his desire to play a more prominent role in the Warriors’ attack. Given his unique athleticism and knack for scoring, there’s no doubt in anybody’s mind that he’s capable of being a 20-point scorer in the NBA. However, with Curry and Butler tasked with carrying the offensive load, Kuminga will have to find ways to make an impact without disrupting the team’s flow.
“Right now, it’s a battle between Steve Kerr saying, ‘This is what we want,’ and Kuminga saying, ‘Well, this is what I want,'” Malone remarked. “They have to find a way to marry that and merge it because you look at what Jonathan Kaminga did in Games 2, 3, 4, and 5 in that second series against Minnesota.”
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“Steph Curry got hurt, and Kuminga became a focal point and showed out,” he continued, referring to Kuminga averaging 20.8 points in the Dubs’ second-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. “They didn’t win any of those games, but can he find a way to step up and be a part of this team off the bench? And most importantly, Steve said it — if he defends, rebounds and runs, he’s going to play. If he does those things, he’s going to have a greater chance to go out there and help impact.”
Solid first outing
Kerr came away impressed with Kuminga’s performance against the Los Angeles Lakers in their first preseason game. He played 14 minutes and 44 seconds and finished with five points, six rebounds and four assists. Showing more composure against the Lakers, he was patient with his attacks, which allowed him to read the defense and fire the right passes to his teammates.
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“I thought he played well. You know, he obviously missed the first couple of days of practice, so he was a little bit behind on some of the stuff we were doing. But I thought JK played well. Made a couple of great passes in transition,” Kerr assessed.
Barring any injury to any of the Warriors’ top guns, it’s doubtful that Kuminga will receive the opportunities that he craves to truly showcase what he can do in the big league. However, at only 23, he still has an eternity of basketball left in his career and if he can work on the fringes of the Warriors’ rotation this season, it will undoubtedly pay off more down the road.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.