Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas is full of praise for Golden State Warriors star Jonathan Kuminga.
The Golden State Warriors playoff plans were thrown through a loop with an injury suffered by Stephen Curry in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Curry played only the first half of the game, and this meant the Warriors had to turn to Jonathan Kuminga, a player who head coach Steve Kerr had been reluctant to use.
Kuminga was a DNP in four of the Warriors’ seven games with the Houston Rockets, and he played only seven minutes of their Game 7 decider.
Jonathan Kuminga started in all four games Stephen Curry missed against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and during these matchups he averaged 24 points per game.
While the Warriors lost all four, Kuminga has earned widespread praise for his efforts.
One former player is thrilled with his turnaround, with Gilbert Arenas comparing the way Kuminga has shifted the narrative to the way Nico Harrison went from being the most incompetent GM in the league to the luckiest, after landing the number one overall pick in the Draft Lottery.
The difference is Kuminga turned his situation around with his own basketball talent – not through a lucky draw of ping pong balls.
Speaking on Gil’s Arena, the former star said: “You are smart. You with Nico right now. I know you couldn’t sleep this whole year but goddammit the last two weeks you should be celebrating.
“You were the best player for the Warriors in the playoffs. You sir, stepped up to a playoff atmosphere, playing against that team, coming off the bench, right now you can make the claim you were the second best player in the series, for sure third.
“Ching ching,” he added, making reference to the expectation Kuminga can expect a huge payday this offseason.
“Superstars jump. Playoff series is sometimes what players get paid off,” Arenas continued.
Kuminga certainly saved his best basketball for when it mattered – although the Warriors failure to win any of the games he started indicates that the team have a lot to figure out.
Kerr has admitted he struggles when Kuminga, Curry and Jimmy Butler are on the floor together, and refused to commit to the trio.
Jonathan Kuminga faces an uncertain future with the Golden State Warriors. He is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason.
Rachel Nichols suggested that the Warriors have gained a trade boost from Jonathan Kuminga’s performances, as his value has increased.
Arenas does not believe this is the route the team should go down, referring to their aging team, and pointing to Kuminga as a potentially big part of their future.
He said: “You’re losing this group within the next 12 months to 24 months and that guy right there has proven right there that he is the cornerstone.”
Not everybody agrees. Former star Charles Oakley argued Kuminga should be traded as Steve Kerr has proven he does not believe in him.
