Former Phoenix Suns point guard Kevin Johnson told SiriusXM NBA Radio that he empathizes with Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga’s current situation.
According to Johnson, Kuminga just has to keep his head held high and be prepared because in the NBA, things can change in a hurry, just like what happened to him at the start of his NBA career.
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“When I watch him play, my heart goes out to him because I was feeling the exact same way that he is probably feeling when I was in Cleveland,” said Johnson.
KJ struggled for minutes playing behind Mark Price
Johnson was the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 7th overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. But when he arrived there, the Cavs had already promoted Mark Price to the starting point guard position. As a result, Johnson was relegated to a bench role and he averaged only 20.3 minutes per game playing.
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Fortunately for Johnson, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns before his rookie season ended. Immediately after arriving in Arizona, he showed what he could do after he was given the keys to the car by coach John Wetzel. KJ went on to become the NBA’s Most Improved Player winner in 1999 and made four All-NBA and three All-Star appearances as a member of the Suns
According to Johnson, teammate Mark West helped him get through his situation in Cleveland. When he was traded to the Suns, West was dealt along with him, so they were teammates again in the Valley.
“What I had was I had Mark West. When I got to Phoenix, I had my two best friends and teammates, even today, Mark West, Eddie Johnson, and obviously, later, Dan Majerle and Charles Barkley. And so forth. But Mark took me under his wing when we were in Cleveland and he said, “What’s happening today is not necessarily what’s happening tomorrow. You just need to be ready. So he just got to stay ready and stay positive,” added KJ.
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Mahorn advised Kuminga to accept his role
Aside from KJ, Kuminga also received unsolicited advice from former Detroit Pistons forward Rick Mahorn, who said that instead of trying to hold out and distance himself further from the Warriors, he must welcome whatever is in front of him and make the best out of his situation because eventually, he will not only succeed but also get paid.
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“You got Steph Curry, you got Draymond Green, you still got pieces from your championships, and you’re not the focal point. It’s about accepting your role,” Mahorn said.“I want players to get paid money, but if you’re not accepting your role, then you know, you’re looking to say, ‘I’m better than this role,’ this is how the NBA is.”
It’s unclear who Kuminga is listening to right now and what he intends to do next. However, it might be helpful for him if he listens to the advice of KJ and Mahorn. Because, as good as he thinks he is, not everyone gets what he wants in the NBA. And if he is that good, that opportunity will eventually come, whether in Golden State or elsewhere.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.