The situation between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors has not gotten better this offseason. Despite the team offering him contracts, it has not been up to the young forward’s standards as former NBA player Austin Rivers evaluated recent events.
Golden State presented Kuminga a deal that would pay him $45 million over the next two years, but he declined the offer. Not only is he looking for more money and long-term security, he is also looking for a firm role that will give him consistent playing time throughout a season.
Rivers gave his thoughts during a July 29 segment of The Ringer show. He compared the situation to that of Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks, noting how different the teams have handled their young rising forwards.
“That’s not a place that historically has developed young talent. When you look at other young prospects, they brought players in strategically to fit around Steph. They still play through Steph. Steph said in an interview the other day, ‘I’m nowhere near retiring. That train is still moving.’ You know, they signed Jimmy to a two-year extension, a guy who plays the same position as Kuminga, two years $120 million, so that doesn’t tell Kuminga right then and there that this is the direction we’re going in,” Rivers said.
“The main difference is Jalen Johnson has progressed through the team that drafted him that wants him to be a star, so they’re paying him to be that. It’s not hard to grasp Kuminga. It’s been an up-and-down roller coaster. His minutes have been up and down. He wants to be a star. He wants to be a first or second option. It’s not going to happen on the Warriors. They’ve made that very clear by playing a variety of guys over [him].”
What Lies Ahead For Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 12: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball against Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the third quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on May 12, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
It’s clear that Jonathan Kuminga is betting on himself, whether his future is with the Warriors or another NBA team.
Nonetheless, he is in the right for trying to find the best situation possible. He has been with Golden State since the franchise drafted him seventh overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Kuminga rose up in the rotation, becoming a key fixture in the team’s offense. However, last season saw him have a roller coaster of a campaign. A key injury had him miss nearly half the year, but when he came back, he did not get his usual playing time back.
Despite the erratic situation, he still had a solid statistical campaign. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game after 47 appearances. He was even a spark plug in the playoffs, putting up 15.3 points per game.
Considering that Kuminga is the best talent Golden State has drafted since 2020, it is concerning that the team hasn’t resolved his situation yet. It makes sense for them to maximize their veteran star core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III, they need to help out Kuminga so they can have a future to look forward to.
The Warriors’ short-term outlook looks convincing, especially after reaching the second round of the postseason before Curry got injured. The long term, however, will remain a question mark until they finally reach a compromise with Kuminga.
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