Report: Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, Steve Kerr Have ‘Strong’ Relationship

According to NBA insider Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and forward Jonathan Kuminga have a “strong” relationship. 

NBA reporters Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported in January that Kuminga had “lost faith” in Kerr after sitting for the final 18 minutes against the Denver Nuggets on January 4. 

However, Kuminga’s minutes and role have increased since then. 

“Sources close to the situation said that, for now, the relationship between Kerr and Kuminga is strong,” Holmes wrote. “‘It definitely took Steve a long time to get on the boat, but it seems like he’s on the boat,’ said one source close to the team. ‘Things are good now.’ But, the source added, how will Kerr balance playing time while reincorporating Payton (who suffered a left hamstring injury in early January) and, eventually, Paul? ‘Is Kerr going to prioritize playing veterans over guys like Kuminga?’ the source asked. ‘When Steve does that, no one ends up happy.'”

Kuminga is averaging 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists this season while shooting 53.4% from the field, 31.7% from beyond the arc and 72.6% from the free-throw line. The Warriors are 27-26. They are in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. 

Several teams were interested in acquiring Kuminga at this year’s trade deadline, but the Warriors made the talented swingman untouchable.

The Warriors drafted Kuminga with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Golden State owner Joe Lacob believes Kuminga can help the franchise avoid going through a rebuild once Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson retire. 

“You can’t hit on everybody,” Lacob said. “We’ve got Kuminga, who’s exploding, and a bunch of other young guys who, I don’t know if they’re going to be stars, but they’re pretty good. I think we should be able to avoid that total rebuild.”

Kuminga has career averages of 11.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists with the Warriors. He’s only 21 years old.