“Take over then.” Stephen Curry’s words on X showed just how good Jonathan Kuminga was last night. The 22-year-old wasn’t performing as per his expectations earlier in the season. According to reports, this was the reason why Steve Kerr benched Kuminga after a few games. However, with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green sidelined against Houston due to injuries, Kuminga got his moment to shine, and he took this chance with both hands. The 4th-year forward couldn’t help but give his flowers to the two veterans for believing in him.

During the post-game presser, the 22-year-old was asked about the final moments of the game. The man-of-the-hour replied, “They (Curry and Green) wanted me to go get the ball. It’s a, you know, that’s how I got my confidence. They wanted me to go out there and just get the ball. And just go from there, you know. They trusted me and, you know, that kind of boosted me, that kind of helped me to just be confident. I took a deep breath, and I just went out there and just, took care of the ball.”

The stern directive helped in adding to what was already shaping up to be a great night for Jonathan Kuminga. He took over in the 4 quarter, scoring 14 points. With 22.8 seconds remaining on the clock, and the Warriors leading by 3 points, Kuminga made a tough layup to seal the game.

Kuminga finished with a career-high 33 points. Both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green congratulated Kuminga with a chest bump. If there was a limited collection of moments that the 22-year-old could take away from the game, then that one would certainly be top of the list.

“It was like a dream come true,” said Kuminga, when discussing the chest bump. “Just having those guys. They always push me, every single day, you know. They always there, no matter what. I just seeing them, cheering for me on that moment, you know. It means a lot.”

Handling things on the offensive front would have certainly helped Kuminga earn Curry’s undivided attention. For Draymond Green, however, that layup would have made him the proudest individual on the court. After all, the efforts that the Warriors have been putting in for a few months may have finally bore fruit.

Draymond Green revealed that mentoring Jonathan Kuminga was part of a recent contract: “You got my word”

Back in March, Draymond Green sat down for an interview with ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, where he shed some light on the four-year, $100 million contract that he had signed with the Warriors last year. Sitting somewhere in Paris, Green revealed negotiating the deal with team owner Joe Lacob over the phone. While everything was settled, the 4x champ revealed that Lacob wanted one more ‘contingency’. Something that wouldn’t show up on the paperwork.

“Joe said, ‘I know you’re going to play and lead and all of that, but I need one more thing,’” Green recalled. “He said, ‘I need you to take JK under your wing. I said, ‘You got my word’ …To me, that was a condition of the contract.” The veteran has taken his role seriously.

According to reports, even after being suspended due to his physical altercations, Draymond Green kept sending Kuminga texts with notes and video clips after games, handing out tips on his performances. Green even indicated back in October whether the power forward role was the best for the young star. “I think he’s a three (small forward). That’s always been my opinion. That’s not going to change my feeling.”

Jonathan Kuminga certainly proved himself in his role today. While such streaks of brilliance may not come in every game, Kuminga, Curry, and Green would still cherish them.