TThe Golden State Warriors walked out of Chicago with one of their most convincing wins of the season, a 123-91 dismantling of the Chicago Bulls from start to finish. But woven into the blowout was a storyline that felt far heavier than the scoreboard. Jonathan Kuminga never touched the floor. Not even in garbage time. Not even with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Al Horford all unavailable.
If you were looking for a moment where the writing on the wall became visible in bold letters, this was it.
For the first time this season, Kuminga registered a healthy DNP, and it felt less like a blip and far more like a shift.
A Healthy DNP That Spoke Louder Than Words
GettyJonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors received a DNP against the Chicago Bulls.
Steve Kerr used ten players in the opening quarter. By the time Gary Payton II checked in to start the second, the number was up to eleven. Kuminga was never among them. That absence became even more striking as the Warriors built their lead and tightened their rotation around players who were defending hard, moving the ball and playing within the system.
This was not the typical matchup night or a matter of minutes lost to foul trouble. The timing made that clear. Kuminga entered the game already coming off a rough three-game stretch, shooting 8-of-32 with six turnovers and little rhythm. The team was short-handed, the opportunity was there, yet Kerr leaned on Gui Santos, Will Richard and Pat Spencer instead. It created a picture of the direction the coaching staff trusts right now. This was not an accident. It was a choice.
Kerr later said that rotations shift depending on who is available and how the team is playing. Sunday made it obvious who is fitting the system and who is not.
The Numbers Behind Kuminga’s Slide
Kuminga’s inconsistency has always defined his tenure. The talent flashes remain real. The athletic tools still jump off the screen. But when the Warriors needed stability on this trip, he did not provide it. Against Philadelphia, he finished with nine points on 4-of-12 shooting with three turnovers. In Cleveland, he went 1-of-10 and was pulled for the entire second half.
Meanwhile, Santos delivered energy and late-game poise. Spencer organized the offense. Quinten Post spaced the floor. Brandin Podziemski rediscovered his scoring touch. Every night, the gap between expectation and impact widened, and the rotation reflected it.
Kerr told Kuminga pregame that the team was going in a different direction. Sunday was the clearest example of what that direction now looks like.
Warriors Depth Is Crowding Him Out
This is not simply a slump. It is a roster squeeze with real consequences.
When the Warriors are healthy, Curry, Jimmy Butler and Green will command heavy minutes. Post and Horford anchor the center rotation. De’Anthony Melton is too impactful to sit. Podziemski and Moses Moody have earned trust. Spencer has become a legitimate nightly option. Santos has played his way into real consideration.
That is already a crowded nine or ten-man rotation before even mentioning Richard, Buddy Hield, Payton II and Seth Curry, each of whom has a clear role on specific nights.
Golden State is playing faster, defending with more edge and rediscovering an identity built on pace, movement and quick decisions. Since returning from knee tendinitis, Kuminga has struggled to match that tempo. His talent has never been questioned, but his fit remains unsettled.
Trade Clock Is Getting Louder
January 15 is when Kuminga becomes trade eligible, and multiple league sources already expect Golden State to explore the market. Nothing about his current role suggests otherwise. He entered the season as a starter, played well in October and briefly looked like he had secured his long-awaited breakthrough. But the momentum stalled, and his minutes evaporated once the team got healthier and the rotation tightened.
The Warriors are hovering around the first apron and need flexibility. Kuminga’s contract is structured to be movable. The relationship has carried tension since restricted free agency. Both sides hoped that an early-season surge meant progress. Instead, the familiar cycle has re-emerged. Hot starts. Cold spells. Lost rhythm. Unclear fit.
The partnership has never fully synced. Sunday felt like the latest confirmation.
For his part, Kuminga is saying the right things. He stressed that he will stay ready and acknowledged that the team is playing well. His mindset is professional. The situation around him is not.
Warriors: The Last Word
Golden State ended the road trip looking like a team rediscovering itself. They defended with purpose, climbed up the league’s defensive rankings and moved the ball with clarity. They found combinations that worked, and for the first time in weeks, the rotation felt stable.
But that stability did not include Kuminga.
Maybe the rotation shifts again. Maybe an injury or matchup opens a window. Kuminga could still force the issue the way he did in October. But based on this trip, and especially Sunday in Chicago, the Warriors are choosing a different path. One built on structure, spacing and reliability.
Right now, Kuminga is not part of that path.
He says he will stay ready. The Warriors are moving forward. And the trade clock is ticking.
The writing is on the wall, and this time it feels permanent.
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