
via Imago
Sep 30, 2024; San Francisco, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) poses for a photo during Media Day at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

via Imago
Sep 30, 2024; San Francisco, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) poses for a photo during Media Day at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The Golden State Warriors are gearing up for the media day of what is expected to be a major season for them. On September 29, NBA teams will host media duties for the new season for the first time, and the Warriors will hope to have made major progress by then. Not only in terms of who they are signing, but also in terms of the one name the entire offseason has revolved around: Jonathan Kuminga.
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So far, we’ve witnessed a lot of drama in this long-stretching saga, but the media day on Monday is set to add another new chapter to it. But the question is, given the circumstances and the fractured relationship between the two parties, will Kuminga be present in front of the press?
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Will we see Jonathan Kuminga on Warriors media day?
Well, no, we will not be seeing the former lottery pick during the Golden State Warriors’ media day set to take place on the 29th of September in the team’s training facilities. This might come as a surprise to many of you, as despite being a restricted free agent, Jonathan Kuminga still remains tied to the storied franchise. However, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater have reported that “Kuminga did not travel to San Francisco this weekend and won’t be in attendance for Monday’s media day.”
This isn’t great news for the Dubs Nation, as they will have to stay in the dark for much longer than anticipated. Nonetheless, this might be the result of some new revelations made by NBA Insider, Jake Fischer. The reporter revealed that the Warriors front office has had “no discussions” about moving the deadline for the $7.9 million qualifying offer and remains firm on their two offers: a two-year $45 million deal, or a three-year, $75 million deal, both of which include a team option for the final year– something he doesn’t want as a part of the deal.
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via Imago
Jan 2, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) dunks against Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (30), forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) and forward Justin Edwards (19) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images
So, if the 22-year-old won’t be inking either of the two deals on the table, it means that the qualifying offer is a real possibility. But even to sign that the time is running out, with October 1st being the deadline for the offer. Even though the final date can be pushed back according to the league’s rules if the team and the player agree, given the fractured relationship between the two, that seems highly unlikely. Nonetheless, what has further raised even more eyebrows amid this tense situation has been JK’s recent gestures.
Jonathan Kuminga raises more concerns ahead of media day
As if showing up for media day wasn’t enough, Jonathan Kuminga has taken things even further up a notch by being absent from the team’s minicamp in San Diego. What makes this even more interesting is the fact that this was a player-only camp hosted by Jimmy Butler, ahead of the official training camp set to tip off in a few days. As expected, Kuminga not showing up to this session garnered a lot of attention, as it left many wondering whether the youngster would even sign any offer or not.

USA Today via Reuters
Jan 24, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) high fives guard Stephen Curry (30) and head coach Steve Kerr as a time out is called against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
However, it not only raises questions for Kuminga but also for the Golden State Warriors. That’s because this standoff has also affected the team’s summer plans, as they currently only have nine players on their roster. According to several reports, the Kuminga situation is the reason why the Warriors’ deals with the likes of Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and even Stephen Curry’s brother, Seth Curry. So, with the media day just a day away, things don’t look too bright for the Dubs.
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Now, whether Jonathan Kuminga inks a qualifying offer, another deal, or a sign-and-trade, there isn’t much time left for either of the sides to find a solution to this saga. Meanwhile, they will be entering a media day with an incomplete roster, a star’s future left in the air, and several new signings also hanging in the balance. But most importantly, how will Mike Dunleavy and Co. handle Jonathan Kuminga’s absence? Well, that’s something everyone of us will be interested in watching as we eagerly await 29th September.
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