The Golden State Warriors’ championship window just slammed shut—or did it? Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL tear has forced Steve Kerr into an impossible corner, one that might finally resurrect the career of his most controversial bench player.

For 17 straight games, Jonathan Kuminga has watched from the sidelines as a healthy scratch, publicly demanding a trade out of the Bay while his relationship with Kerr deteriorated beyond repair. Now, with Butler sidelined and the Warriors’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the head coach faces a brutal reality: he needs the very player he’s been freezing out.

Kerr knows this playbook all too well—he’s navigated star injuries at the worst possible moments before. But this time feels different. On Tuesday night, ahead of the Warriors-Raptors matchup, Kerr hinted at the inevitable, admitting Kuminga “could be” back in the rotation soon. The question isn’t whether JK returns—it’s whether either side can swallow their pride long enough to salvage what’s left of this season.

“He obviously hasn’t played in a while. But at this point, we have to experiment a little bit with rotations and see where we are, and he’s definitely part of that conversation,” Kerr told the reporters.

Butler’s injury doesn’t just alter rotations; it obliterates every trade scenario the Warriors had mapped out. Kerr must now decide: double down on the old hustling mindset that built a dynasty, or watch his team’s championship aspirations crumble while a talented 23-year-old collects splinters.

His comments also dispel many nasty rumors, including Kuminga and the front office’s tacit agreement not to play him until the trade deadline, and Kerr’s feud with JK’s agent.

Yet he confirmed that Kuminga wants to still play with the team despite the trade demand. 

Steve Kerr’s adjustment after Jimmy Butler’s injury

At 6’7″, Jonathan Kuminga has the build to handle a few hits while making a drive. By most analysts’ prediction, he is a logical fit to carry out Butler’s late-game role. Maybe not so much to be a starter. The hold-up would be if Kuminga and Kerr can see eye-to-eye.

For what it’s worth, Kerr is not clinging to Butler’s dynamism. “I think we’re well-equipped with our depth to continue to play at a high level,” he said. The bad news might be that he’s attributing the depth to the additions of De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford.

“At this stage, before we traded for Jimmy, I didn’t feel like we had enough to really compete at a high level… I think we have enough to compete. I think Al and Melton have given us a different dynamic. I think a lot of our young players, Quenten, Will Richard, those guys are ready to contribute. They have contributed. We’ve got depth. So we can keep this thing going.”

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The Warriors are in a similar position as they were last year before the Miami Heat shipped Jimmy Butler to the Bay. Butler led them to the playoffs, but his and Curry’s injuries led to a loss to the Timberwolves. Melton was injured then, and Horford was signed in the offseason.

This duo, with the youngsters like Quentin Post and Will Richard, has brought much-needed depth to the Warriors’ bench.

Kerr’s short answers about Kuminga don’t give assurance at this point. In comparison, he attributes their improvement to Al Horford’s leadership, Melton’s return, and the rookies.

As the Warriors prepare for a brutal stretch through All-Star season and the trade deadline, Kerr’s focus is no longer on the star power they lost, but on the depth they must now rely on.