The Golden State Warriors are in the thick of their biggest test yet — a Game 7 showdown with the Houston Rockets that will determine who advances to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Up 3-1 in the series just days ago, the Warriors are now fighting to avoid a complete collapse — something that hasn’t happened to them since their infamous 2016 Finals loss.

But they’re not going into battle at full strength. Guard Gary Payton II was ruled out just hours before tip-off with what Steve Kerr described as a severe illness. “He’s just sick as a dog,” Kerr told reporters pregame. “He woke up ill, didn’t go to shootaround, and he hasn’t eaten. No way he can play.” His absence adds to a tough stretch of late-season injury woes for the Warriors, which already included Stephen Curry’s thumb issue and Brandin Podziemski’s food poisoning scare in Game 2.

Payton’s illness meant the Warriors had to reshuffle their rotation, opening the door for minutes from players who had fallen out of favor in recent weeks. Chief among them is Jonathan Kuminga. The 22-year-old forward was a steady contributor during the regular season, averaging 15.3 points per game, but saw a sharp dip in minutes after Golden State acquired Jimmy Butler.

Kuminga appeared in Games 2 and 3 of the series but had been benched since. That changed in Game 7, when Steve Kerr inserted him early in the first quarter. Unfortunately, Kuminga’s first stint was rough: he fooled Rockets center Steven Adams with a shot fake but missed two consecutive layups on the same possession.

Even so, the opportunity is significant. With his role shrinking and future with the team uncertain, this could be Kuminga’s final chance to prove he belongs in Golden State’s plans moving forward.

Curry, facing a win-or-go-home scenario, came out aggressive but cold. He missed all four of his first-quarter shot attempts, including a trio of three-pointers. He remained scoreless with 3:30 left in the second quarter. Still, the four-time champion found other ways to impact the game, tallying five rebounds, four assists, a steal, and two blocks. One of his early highlights was a dazzling behind-the-head assist to Hield in the corner, showcasing his court vision even while his shot refused to fall.

Fans Unleash on Kuminga Amid Rough Game 7 Performance

Fans weren’t holding back on Jonathan Kuminga’s early Game 7 performance — especially after his back-to-back missed layups in a high-stakes elimination game.

“Jonathan Kuminga playing like he got a parlay against his own team. Get it together bruh! 😭” Despite averaging 15.3 points and shooting 45.4% from the field during the regular season, Kuminga has had several zero-impact games — including a 23-minute scoreless outing vs. Utah on April 14. These swings have made fans increasingly frustrated with his consistency.

Another fan voiced disbelief at Kerr’s decision-making: “I’m really surprised Steve Kerr thought it was a good idea to play Jonathan Kuminga in this game…” Given Kuminga’s DNP-CD status in multiple games this series, Kerr’s choice to throw him into a Game 7 must-win situation felt like a gamble to many. But prior to tip-off, Kerr admitted his return to the rotation was “100% on the table,” hinting this wasn’t a last-minute decision.

The skepticism got even sharper as the game went on: “Jonathan Kuminga is a depreciating asset – losing value every minute he’s on the floor.”
That perception might be financially driven too — Kuminga reportedly turned down a 5-year, $150M extension, believing he could command ~$35M/year. With that in mind, every underwhelming performance only fuels speculation about his diminishing value. And finally, one reaction summed up both Kerr’s coaching and Kuminga’s effort in one biting line:

“Jonathan Kuminga quickly showing why Steve Kerr doesn’t have him in the rotation.” Despite strong regular-season showings (16.1 PPG in 2023–24), Kuminga’s playoff inconsistency has made it hard for Kerr to trust him in crunch-time moments. Still, not all fans have given up. Some acknowledge that growing pains are part of a young player’s playoff development, but Game 7 might not be the place for patience.

Many fans, meanwhile, are demanding justice… but not for who you’d expect. No, not for Kuminga, not for the refs—for Steve Kerr. Yep, Justice. For. Steve. Kerr. Why? Because the way Kuminga pulled up to the arena, bro looked like he just clocked out of his second shift as assistant manager at Taco Bell, still holding someone’s Baja Blast order. One fan even tweeted, “Justice for Steve Kerr.”

This is the first Game 7 between the Warriors and Rockets since 2018 — a matchup Golden State won en route to an NBA championship. Historically, the Warriors are 4-0 in playoff series against Houston since 2015, but that record means little in the face of the present tension.

Steph Curry’s shooting will need to bounce back fast, Kuminga must settle in quickly, and Moody and Hield will have to keep producing. Otherwise, Golden State’s season — and possibly this iteration of their dynasty — could come to an abrupt and bitter end.