After the Warriors’ 113-103 victory over the Timberwolves on Saturday, Steve Kerr didn’t hold back. He called out the “young players” for being selfish with the ball. Kerr pointed out how the team thrives when they move the ball, especially with a guy like Steph Curry on the floor. The offense clicks when they play as a unit.
When it came to Kuminga, Kerr made it clear that his shot selection against Minnesota wasn’t up to par. The 59-year-old coach said, “There were a couple plays in the game where where JK had shots like that, you know….. JK, you know, his mid-range points per possession is obviously, Uh, pretty low. And So we, you know, it’s just about figuring out, what’s a good shot? What’s a bad shot, But they’re, you know, it’s within the context of the game there’s times where that mid-range shot is the one we’re going to get.”. And in the end he clarified, “The message was really for our whole team”.
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“JK, his mid-range points per possession is obviously pretty low. It’s just about figuring out what’s a good shot, what’s a bad shot.”
“I got on both those two guys (Kuminga & Podziemski). The message was really for our whole team.”
Steve Kerr on his postgame comments Saturday pic.twitter.com/yVVwGmjXrs
— KNBR (@KNBR) December 24, 2024
Kuminga has played 25 games so far, averaging 15.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.2 three-pointers per game. His shooting efficiency stands at 43.6%. Along with his place in the starting lineup, his future is also uncertain at Golden State. The Warriors star may have hinted about his future on Instagram.
What does a cryptic Instagram post suggest? A trade?
After Kerr’s comments, Kuminga put a cryptic peace-sign post on Instagram. When asked if Kerr was concerned about his frustration, the coach simply shrugged it off, saying no.
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Right now, Kuminga’s future with the Warriors is hanging in the balance. He’s the team’s top trade asset, with no contract extension signed earlier this season. The Warriors have shuffled him between the starting lineup and the bench, and with his restricted free agency looming in June, rumors swirl about them trading him for a veteran player.
Kuminga’s shooting struggles are hard to ignore. He’s attempting 1.3 midrange shots per game but hitting only 25%. He’s also among the nine NBA players this season who are taking 13+ shots per game but have an effective field goal percentage under 49%. His two-point shooting isn’t much better, sitting at just 48%.
Take Saturday’s game as an example: Kuminga bypassed a wide-open Brandin Podziemski for a three-pointer, which Curry had pointed out to him, opting instead for a midrange jumper that missed. That night, he finished with 11 points on 3-for-11 shooting.
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But hey, that Warriors forward has had some standout games. He dropped 20 points in three straight games and scored 33 points earlier this month against Houston while Curry and Draymond Green sat out. The big question is: Can Kuminga find his rhythm, or will the Warriors look to trade him before his contract expires?
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Is Jonathan Kuminga the future of the Warriors, or just another trade chip waiting to be moved?
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Is Jonathan Kuminga the future of the Warriors, or just another trade chip waiting to be moved?
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