The Warriors played 10 players in Thursday night’s 123-110 win over Miami, and none of them were Jonathan Kuminga.
Kuminga, 20, got his first “DNP – Coach’s Decision” of the 2022-23 season. The seventh overall pick from the 2021 class had been averaging 10.8 minutes in Golden State’s first four games of the year, but even that oversells his role.
After the Warriors’ victory, head coach Steve Kerr explained why he never called Kuminga’s number.
“It’s hard to play more than 10 guys, it just is,” Kerr said. “I think we’ve done it a couple times, played 11 maybe in two of the five games. But Jonathan’s time will come. He’s a very, very young player. He’s very talented. He’s just got to keep working. Things will go well for him as long as he just stays on the path.”
In the past two games before Thursday, Kuminga didn’t play in the first half. He’s played mostly when the Warriors are either up or down big.
Surely opportunities for raw talents like Kuminga are tougher to come by on a championship-level team like the Warriors. If Kuminga had been selected to a typical lottery team, one without stars, he’d be experiencing a much bigger role.
Kerr added that development doesn’t only come with in-game minutes. Kuminga is still working hard and staying ready in practice, the coach said, and “his time will come.”
Currently, Moses Moody’s floor-spacing and Ty Jerome’s playmaking on the ball are more valuable to Golden State second units than what Kuminga might bring. At least that’s the point Kerr has made with his lineup decisions.
Asked about how the young forward might be handling his limited role, Kerr offered a poignant assessment.
“JK’s a very quiet guy,” Kerr said. “We’ve spent a lot of time together here in the early part of the season, in camp. He’s not happy, and I don’t want him to be happy. I want all of my guys to want to be out there.”
Stephen Curry (33 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds) agreed with Kerr. The two-time MVP even resonates with what Kuminga is going through.
“I hope he’s pissed off about it,” Curry said. “I hope he’s frustrated. Because that’s what’s going to make it worth it when it comes his way.”
Way back when Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were breaking into the league, they had to be patient, too. Curry got some DNPs as a rookie. Thompson was stuck behind Monta Ellis. Green was David Lee’s backup.
Curry doesn’t forget that time. It gives him the perspective to teach players like Kuminga about how the NBA works.
“Things change really quickly,” Curry said. “He’s put in a lot of great work. Great approach to it. He’s playing for a coach that is really going to maintain that perspective of ‘your time is coming.’ Just be patient. We’ve all gone through it.”
Kuminga is still viewed as a major piece of the Warriors’ future. He had five games of at least 20 points during his rookie season. His rare athleticism at a premium position is undeniable.
Coincidentally, KNBR ran a Twitter poll on Thursday morning asking which of the Warriors’ young trio — Kuminga, center James Wiseman, or wing Moses Moody — will have the best career. As of late Thursday night, Kuminga received the second most votes of the three.
But Kuminga will have to wait his turn to show if — or how quickly — he can reach his potential.
“Stay patient, man,” Thompson said his message to Kuminga would be.
“You’re 20 years old, already in the NBA, you’ve already won,” Thompson said. “Your greatness is ahead of you…And sometimes minutes might not be there. But you’re an incredible athlete and you’re going to be an incredible basketball player. It just takes time. How many guys from his draft class are playing for championships? Maybe two, three? The position he’s in is great.”
