The front office’s offseason drama didn’t ensure Steve Kerr would comply. The Warriors ultimately finalized a deal with Jonathan Kuminga at the last moment. However, a critical question remained: Kuminga wasn’t the type of player Kerr typically favors, and his decision to keep Kuminga on the bench last season contributed to the offseason tensions. Has this changed anything? Kerr revealed that it indeed has.

Ahead of the Warriors’ game against the Clippers, Steve Kerr lavished praise on the young player, signaling his intention to give Kuminga a chance in the upcoming game.

“Yes. He’ll start tonight and he will be our starter going forward. He’s been fantastic. Last night, put him on Ja. Tonight we will put him on James Harden. I think he’s ready,” the HC told reporters.

Starting in all four games of the 2025-26 season so far, Kuminga is averaging 18 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on 58.1% shooting. That downplays the cynical speculation that he’d be sidelined for petty reasons for being difficult on that extension.

After a long standoff, Kuminga signed a 2 year, $46.8 million contract just days before the season began. The build-up to it though made fans, analysts, and NBA veterans speculate if the forward is a good fit for the team anymore.

The previous season, Kerr was reportedly annoyed by the 23-year-old’s selfish plays. The arrival of Jimmy Butler saw his role reduced further.

The best barometer for Kuminga’s usefulness was Steph Curry who spent the offseason assuring Dub Nation that he’d back and fit in with the team the same.

With the addition of Al Horford, as well as Moses Moody and Brandon Podziemski’s tremendous improvement, no one could guess if JK would get what he expected. However, things definitely changed.

Steve Kerr makes u-turn on Jonathan Kuminga

The contract drama is now in the past, as Kuminga has hit the ground running this season. His performance against the Grizzlies demonstrated that he deserves a larger role in the rotation, highlighted by his game-high 25 points in the Warriors’ 131-118 victory over Memphis.

Curry had said that Kuminga would be “locked in” this season before the contract had even been decided. It’s like his teammate wanted to prove him right while changing Kerr’s previous opinions of him.

After the Grizzlies game, the coach piled on the praise. He did say that Kuminga, “wasn’t great last year,” but has shown immense improvement.

“JK has been fantastic,” Kerr said and sort of stunned the media with how much praise he’s got for Kuminga. “It just feels like he’s found his spot with this group, playing with Jimmy and Dre on the front line. And we just feel like the way he’s rebounding, the way he’s attacking the rim, that’s what makes him special. His athleticism, his force, and when he’s playing to that talent, to that ability, it changes our team, and it changes his game. So he’s been great.”

The doubts of his fit in the team fueled speculation that Kuminga would be traded before the deadline for the Warriors to recover assets. His performance so far though, and the confidence he gives his coach, it seems he might outplay his contract.