Jonathan Kuminga

2022 - 12 - 29

Post cover — Image courtesy of "SLAM Online"

How Jonathan Kuminga Impressed Draymond Green With His ... (SLAM Online)

Draymond Green heaped a ton of praise on Jonathan Kuminga for his defensive effort in the fourth quarter to help Golden State beat Charlotte.

When you’re good enough, and you’re capable, the team concepts adapt around you.” When you’re good enough, the team concepts adapt around you. Being disruptive on the ball and locking up his individual assignments will also help. … As a competitor, you lose your spot in the rotation; what are you going to do to get it back? Washington](https://www.slamonline.com/?s=P.J.+Washington), his opportune buckets, and his athleticism to finish plays on both ends of the floor. “It’s his (improved) understanding on that side of the ball. Although Kuminga isn’t a seasoned veteran yet, his physical acumen and embrace of being Golden State’s defensive hound dog will help the Warriors turn around a season that hasn’t gone quite as they expected. Kuminga put the finishing touches on the win with a cutting dunk in the lane and clamped up LaMelo Ball for 90 feet. [Gordan Hayward](https://www.slamonline.com/?s=Gordon+Hayward) to give Golden State a five-point lead. “He’s playing really well defensively, and he was guarding LaMelo (Ball).” “It’s been a beautiful thing to watch,” Green said. Being able to play the entire fourth quarter was proof of head coach Steve Kerr’s trust in his defensive play.

Jonathan Kuminga Reveals Inspiration for Improved Defense (Sports Illustrated)

Jonathan Kuminga has been an absolute force defensively for the shorthanded Warriors. He helped the team claw out a victory against the Charlotte Hornets, ...

However, the improved play of players like Jonathan Kuminga helped show why the Warriors invested in their youth. He made huge plays, defensively, and I thought that kind of led to a couple of offensive plays... It was a performance that drew praise from both Steve Kerr and Klay Thompson after the game. "Incredibly proud," Klay Thompson said of Kuminga. The source of that improvement? He helped the team claw out a victory against the Charlotte Hornets, and seems to be much improving as a defender.

Jonathan Kuminga is emerging into a defensive force for the Warriors (The Athletic)

Andrew Wiggins' absence has provided an opening for Kuminga, who has taken a firm grip on a rotation spot with his point-of-attack defense.

He’s going to be too into the ball and I can’t get a good red (coverage). [Gary Payton II](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/gary-payton-ii-nvluPOjR8pF1bTxB/), who led the NBA in steals per 36 minutes, left a void when he went to Portland. He’s doing the things that need to be done on that side. When you’re good enough and you’re capable, the team concepts adapt around you.” “It’s his (improved) understanding on that side of the ball. The Warriors are a smaller team that is in desperate need of an injection of controlled athleticism. … As a competitor, you lose your spot in the rotation, what are you going to do to get it back? [Hornets](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/hornets/) melted away the Warriors’ 18-point second-half lead completely. These were meaningful statements about a second-year wing he clearly believes has the potential to be an elite defender. You can watch the [offensive clips here](https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/1607973007452180482). [Andre Iguodala](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/andre-iguodala-7RfErxUArIzNaN3b/) on that play,” head coach Steve Kerr said. [Gordon Hayward](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/gordon-hayward-9eR4zdcr4HR5ACpn/) in isolation with under 90 seconds left to give the Warriors a five-point lead.

Klay Thompson lauds Jonathan Kuminga for pivotal performance in ... (NBC Sports Bay Area)

Klay Thompson put the spotlight on Jonathan Kuminga, praising the 20-year-old for his performance in the Warriors' win over the Charlotte Hornets.

"His ability to play above the rim adds a whole new dimension for our team. [told Bonta Hill, Chris Mullin and Festus Ezeli on "Warriors Postgame Live"](https://soundcloud.com/warriors/klay-thompson-postgame-nbc-sports-bay-area-122722) after the win as he praised the 6-foot-7 forward for what he brought to the court. [left shoulder subluxation](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/warriors-steph-curry-reacts-shoulder-injury-relieved-surgery-isnt-needed) and an [illness delaying the return](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/andrew-wiggins-cleared-adductor-injury-now-ruled-out-illness) of Andrew Wiggins after being cleared to play, Kuminga provided the Warriors with secondary scoring.

Warriors: Draymond Green drops NSFW Jonathan Kuminga take (ClutchPoints)

Jonathan Kuminga himself feels he's turning the corner in terms of what the Warriors need from him. Draymond Green is seeing it too.

The Warriors are struggling to keep their head above water as they try to climb the Western Conference playoff picture. After the Warriors’ win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, he got head coach Steve Kerr to agree and so did Draymond Green. The Golden State Warriors sophomore has seemingly taken a step back on the offensive side of the floor.

Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga proving to be a man for ... (Blue Man Hoop)

Jonathan Kuminga continues to rise to the important occasions, showcasing his two-way game to help close the Golden State Warriors' 17th win of the season.

To have a second-year player look so comfortable in these moments is full credit to Kuminga’s temperament, and the way in which the coaching staff are developing him. With both teams struggling for baskets in the final moments, Kuminga made something out of nothing with a floater over Gordon Hayward to beat the shot-clock buzzer and extend the Warriors’ lead to four. It’s not the first time Kuminga has performed well at the big moments in fourth-quarters.

Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga: Displays defensive skills in win (CBSSports.com)

Kuminga closed Tuesday's 110-105 victory over the Hornets with 14 points (6-6 FG, 2-3 FT), six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 23 minutes.

Jonathan Kuminga is learning his role and striving for more (FanSided)

Jonathan Kuminga is drawing inspiration from Kobe Bryant as he balances his complementary role and immense potential as a future star.

Kuminga had a tendency to stop the ball and hunt for his own shot. Kuminga lost his spot after Golden State’s blowout loss to the Suns in the fourth game of the season. Among the Warriors’ young lottery picks, Kuminga is the readiest to contribute this season. “He’s not happy and I don’t want him to be happy,” Kerr said after benching Kuminga for the entirety of that home win against the Heat. “So it’s going to be different right from the start probably for the first couple of years.” The 17 months in Golden State represents the most time Kuminga has spent playing for one team in his basketball career. He recalled a fadeaway jumper he made as a rookie on this same Miami court, pointing to the spot as he talked. Bryant introduced himself to the group and stood next to Kuminga, considered one the top recruits of his junior class, and posed for a photo. Kuminga’s father, Didier, is a former power forward and coached Jonathan and his brother Joel hoping basketball could provide a path to the United States. Though Kuminga never got the chance to train with Kobe, he played well enough in the G League to be considered among the best prospects in his draft class. Since then, Kuminga has carved out a role with the Warriors and is now a key piece of a maturing bench rotation. Moments after Green’s scrum with the media, Kuminga sits in a bright red seat in the fourth row from the court and discusses the narrative shaping around him.

Jonathan Kuminga

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