Golden State Warriors star Jonathan Kuminga is facing the biggest test of his short career to date.
Drafted with the seventh pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors have had high hopes for Jonathan Kuminga.
It has not quite been a straightforward success. And in the crucial ‘win and in’ regular season game to land a playoff spot, Jonathan Kuminga was a DNP, axed by coach Steve Kerr, not selected to play a single minute.
Kerr said he felt the game simply did not call for Kuminga. It was a damning verdict, from a coach who ha recently suggested Kuminga did not really fit their new look offense with Jimmy Butler.
The Warriors lost the game to the Clippers 124-119. This means they fall into the Play-In Tournament and face the Memphis Grizzlies in the match-up between the seven and eight seeds.
With the upcoming match-up on a short-turnaround, and Butler dealing with a minor injury, there is a good chance Kuminga suits up against Memphis.
Teammate Stephen Curry urged Kuminga to respond positively and be ready to be called upon.
And it looked like Kuminga was already taking this advice on board.
Following the Warriors home loss, Kuminga was spotted on the court taking shots, practising alone.
The video shared via Dieter Kurtenbach detailed Kuminga was ‘getting up shots well after the game’.
This was a positive sign and will endear Kuminga to the coaching staff. This is far better than storming out of the arena in anger. He is determined to bounce back.
A second successive DNP would be a further damning indictment of Jonathan Kuminga.
But given the desperate situation for the Warriors, and the need for some fresh legs, we would expect Steve Kerr to mix it up.
Warriors legend Chris Mullin suggested Kerr may have made a mistake in their loss to the Clippers, missing some of the athleticism Kuminga brings to the team.
Festus Ezeli believes the Warriors need Kuminga if they are going to make a run in the playoffs, and he has plenty of motivation to seize the moment against the Grizzlies if given an opportunity.
