Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga stated in January of that year that he had “lost faith” in head coach Steve Kerr. The 21-year-old has been lighting it up ever since.
On January 4, even as the Warriors were blowing an 18-point lead in a 130-127 defeat to the Denver Nuggets, Kerr benched Kuminga for the final eighteen minutes.
The Athletic was then informed by Kuminga’s associates that Kerr wouldn’t “allow him to reach his full potential.”
That’s usually a hint that a young player is about to be benched or forced into a trade. Kerr, on the other hand, appears to have taken the remarks seriously.
Kuminga has played more minutes and scored more points than any other Warriors player outside Stephen Curry since that game against the Nuggets. He is shooting 55.1 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range, enough for an average of 19.8 points.
Additionally, Kuminga has given the Warriors a power at the hoop—something they have been lacking. In addition, he provides them with a foul-drawer, as he leads the club in making 4.5 free throw attempts per game.
When the team boasts Curry and Klay Thompson as automatic free-throw shooters, getting into the bonus is crucial, but Kuminga has increased his personal free-throw shooting to 79 percent since January 4.
Rather of being traded at the trade deadline, Kuminga now appears to be guaranteed a rookie extension this summer.
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