To open the season, Jonathan Kuminga appeared to have discovered a groove with the Warriors. By way of the season’s first 9 video games, he averaged 17.2 factors and seven.1 rebounds per sport and shot 41.4% from 3-point vary. Coach Steve Kerr mentioned Kuminga was the crew’s fourth full-time starter.
Within the final 5 video games, he has fallen off to 9.6 factors and 5 rebounds a sport, taking pictures 15.4% from past the arc, with virtually as many turnovers (2.7) as assists (2.8). With that, Kerr moved Kuminga to the bench, however that has introduced up previous emotions from an extended and rocky relationship along with his coach, reports Anthony Slater at ESPN.
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“He feels just like the scapegoat once more,” one crew supply mentioned …
Kuminga, crew sources mentioned, had voiced to Kerr a need to be coached more durable. There was even a gathering about it of their Sacramento lodge previous to the ninth sport of the season and Kerr appeared to make it a degree through the Kings sport to name Kuminga over and get on him constructively a number of occasions.
However 4-1 turned 6-6. Kuminga’s knees started bothering him. His defensive juice and burst to the rim lessened. He went 1 of 9 taking pictures at house in opposition to the Pacers, lacking all 5 of his 3s. Coaches dinged him for his perimeter shot choice as a cause for his minute discount (season-low 20).
The cloud over all of that is that, as of Jan. 15, Kuminga turns into commerce eligible, and the Warriors are anticipated to check the commerce waters. A part of the purpose of the two-year, $46.8 million contract (with a crew choice the second 12 months) was that it was very tradable. This can be a case the place it appears like a contemporary begin some other place could be good for Kuminga, however the Warriors aren’t going to get a lot worth again in a commerce if he’s struggling in a bench function. Kuminga has been out of the final 4 video games with knee tendonitis, and the Warriors went 2-2 throughout that a part of the highway journey.
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In some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent month, Kerr goes to lean on Kuminga once more — the Warriors may use his athleticism — but when he’s going to show to different groups he deserves the chance he feels he isn’t getting in Golden State, he needs to be extra constant. And keep wholesome.
He has to appear to be the man from the primary 9 video games of the season.
