Draymond Green doubles down on Jonathan Kuminga 2021 NBA Draft endorsement originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
In the wake of Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga requesting a trade from the team, Draymond Green’s suggestions to former general manager Bob Myers during the 2021 NBA Draft have resurfaced.
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During the draft in which the Warriors held the seventh and 14th overall picks, Green texted Myers his preferred selections, which ended up being Kuminga and Moses Moody, respectively.
Hindsight shows that selecting Kuminga might have been a mistake, but Green defended his suggestion on the latest episode of his podcast.
“I would always give suggestions in drafts and free agency and all of that stuff. That’s what you do when you have successful teams,” Green explained on “The Draymond Green Show.” “And yes, I still believe and love the Jonathan Kuminga pick and Moses Moody pick.”
“With JK, it hasn’t gone so well… I’ve built a relationship that’ll last the rest of my life [that] I’m forever grateful for. But it just hasn’t quite gone the way anyone would have wanted it to go.”
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Kuminga, who is in his fifth season with the Warriors, has fallen out of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation. He is averaging 11.8 points while shooting 43.1 percent from the field in 18 games played this season.
Despite his benching rendering him ineffective for the Warriors, Green maintains that picking Kuminga with the seventh overall pick was the right move.
“What we do is an inexact science. That’s just how the cookie crumbles sometimes…” Green said. “… If you wouldn’t have drafted JK with the seventh pick, you’re an idiot.”
Moody, who was selected seven picks after Kuminga, has solidified a role for himself on the Warriors with 3-point shooting and reliable defense. He has started 30 of his 41 games played this season.
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“Moses, I think, it has worked,” Green explained. “Moses is a starter on this team. He signed a second contract. He has a role and a niche on this team…”
“… And if you didn’t think Moses is a great rotational piece, starting player on our team, if you don’t think he’s worth the 14th pick, you’re an idiot. And so definitely stand by that.”
Moody has a much clearer future with the Warriors. Even though his production isn’t particularly at a star level, he at least has a role. Perhaps that marks his selection as a success in that regard.
Green has confidence that both Kuminga and Moody have bright NBA careers ahead of them.
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“Love those guys. And they both got bright futures in this league,” Green explained. “And I will continue to watch them fulfill those futures, fulfill their dreams, reach their level of greatness, whatever that level of greatness within them is.”
“I look forward to them reaching that and I will continue to be big fans of their journeys.”
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