Jonathan Kuminga put his summer-long contract saga with the Golden State Warriors behind him as he shone during the team’s opening night win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The explosive young forward produced a high-level two-way performance against JJ Redick’s team. When speaking to the media after the game, Draymond Green shared his thoughts on Kuminga’s performance.
âWhen you ask for opportunity, you must deliver,â Green said. âI think heâs been very vocal about his opportunity, and he delivered. And so, you know, when you see a guy thatâs willing to put their neck on the line and be vocal, and then they deliver. You also must reward them because if they donât, you tear them down. Thatâs just naturally what happens.â
Kuminga certainly rose to the occasion. He took on the unenviable task of guarding Luka Doncic, and consistently adjusted his offensive game to ensure that he was playing within the flow of Steve Kerr’s system. Of course, there were some unwanted mid-range attempts, but, for the most part, Kuminga’s approach was exactly what the team needed from him.
Green Praises Kuminga’s Defense on Doncic
During the same news conference, Green spoke glowingly about the defensive effort Kuminga put forth in trying to limit Doncic. And while the Lakers’ superstar dropped 43 points, Green pointed out that Kuminga’s presence ensured the Warriors didn’t have to commit multiple bodies to try and slow Doncic down.
“He was guarding Luka all night,” Green said. “And you know Lukaâwell, he finished with 39, 40, something like that. But it was like we didn’t have to commit two guys. You know, so you get 43, which I always tell these guys: you’re not stopping a great scorer. And that’s just not the way this league is set up for you to stop great scorers. But you do make a tough one. And I think all night he lived with the results. And over the course of 48 minutes, you just want to wear him down. You know, I think JK was all over him.”
If Kuminga can make that sort of two-way impact throughout the season, it will be difficult for Kerr to ignore his importance to the rotation. Of course, that doesn’t mean Kuminga will be guaranteed a starting spot, but it does mean he could have a sizeable role to play.
Warriors’ Kerr Also Praised Kuminga
When speaking to the media after the game, Kerr also heaped praise on Kuminga, specifically for the maturity he showed on the floor.
âI think heâs really matured,â Kerr said. âHeâs had a great camp. Weâve had some really good conversations. I think he has a better understanding of what we need. You saw in the first half he took a couple tough mid-range fadeaways that we donât want. He immediately held up his handâ¦It hasnât been easy to find minutes on our team. And Iâm really proud of him for staying with it and really maturing. And itâs a great start for him and for us.â
After a difficult summer, it would appear the Warriors and Kuminga are now on the same page. It will be interesting to see how much opportunity he’s afforded in the coming months, and whether he can capitalize on any momentum he builds to begin the season.
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