Jonathan Kuminga’s role with the Golden State Warriors has long been a topic of quiet frustration, one that boiled over during the offseason before being resolved — for now.
The 23-year-old forward eventually agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million contract to stay with the team, a deal that came only after weeks of tense negotiation. The contract, structured with a team option rather than a player option, reflects a compromise: Golden State retains flexibility, and Kuminga has a short runway to prove himself.
Through the first two preseason games, he’s come off the bench — a role unlikely to change as long as Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler remain healthy and commanding the spotlight.
‘I Don’t Waste My Energy’
Getty Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors speaks with head coach Steve Kerr.
Kuminga has stopped asking for clarity about his role from coach Steve Kerr, admitting that he already knows what kind of answer he’ll get.
“I don’t ask [Kerr] about roles because I know what he is going to tell me,” Kuminga told Andscape. “I don’t waste my energy. I choose not to ask because nobody is going to tell me. It’s whatever.”
The message is both resigned and self-aware — the perspective of a player stuck between development and contribution, trying to carve out a place in a system that has rarely been kind to young talent.
Through two preseason outings, Kuminga has averaged 4.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 17.5 minutes per game. His aggression, the same edge that carried him during last spring’s playoff breakout against the Minnesota Timberwolves, has seemed muted.
“You just have to find ways to do things when you get out there,” Kuminga said. “Make plays, defend. I don’t have a consistent role. I just play a role where I make sure I play defense and run the floor.”
Searching for Consistency
That inconsistency remains his biggest hurdle. In the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kuminga was a steady plus-7, scoring five points on 2-of-3 shooting. Three nights later against Portland, he finished minus-17, missing four of five shots.
Those swings have tested the coaching staff’s patience before. But Kuminga insists he’s focused on becoming the team’s “X-factor,” a player who impacts both ends of the floor even when he’s not scoring.
“Being that guy on both ends when it comes to defense, when it comes to the old offense,” he told Andscape. “So, I just have to find a way to help so we can win a championship.”
Still, that’s not the whole story. During his contract standoff, Kuminga made it clear he wants to be more than just a role player. He wants to be a star — the dynamic, fearless version who once went shot-for-shot with Anthony Edwards in the playoffs and led the Warriors in scoring during that series.
“I have too much confidence,” Kuminga told Andscape. “And my confidence doesn’t just come from inside because I work towards it. The sky is the limit. I can’t predict it, but I believe in God, I trust my work, and I know I have a long way to go.”
Warriors’ Future Remains Uncertain
Kuminga now finds himself in limbo — toggling between deferring to the Warriors’ hierarchy and seizing moments when their stars rest. Striking that balance will determine his future once his trade restriction is lifted in January.
If the fit works, Golden State may finally see him as part of its long-term core. If not, his contract’s structure makes him one of the team’s most valuable trade assets.
“I don’t think about things like that,” Kuminga said. “I let the day just tell us what’s going to happen. When it comes to future stuff, no. I just try to get better. You never know with this life. It’s the NBA. One day you’re going to be here, one day you’re going to be somewhere else.”
For now, he’s betting on himself — and his work.
“The biggest thing about it is just to work and just get better every day and be a winner,” he said. “No matter where I’ll be, I just want to get there, be involved, and win. That’s my biggest concern.”
As the Warriors begin another season built around aging superstars, Jonathan Kuminga remains the wild card — one still searching for a role, and maybe, a reason to stay.
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