The Golden State Warriors, for the most part, have a clear hierarchy. Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green are the leaders. Buddy Hield, Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Moses Moody are high-level role players. Al Horford brings recent title experience and defense.
The odd man out is Jonathan Kuminga.
Is Kuminga the face-of-the-franchise in waiting or a trade chip? His talent suggests the former, his new contract suggests the latter.
Butler makes Kuminga expendable, but it’s impossible to ignore that Butler is 36 years old and has not appeared in 65 games since 2019. In the event that he gets injured, Kuminga is a viable second option on offense behind Curry.
In order to maximize his success, the Warriors need Kuminga to do what Butler quietly excels at.
GettySAITAMA, JAPAN – SEPTEMBER 30: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw during the Golden State Warriors v Washington Wizards – NBA Japan Games at the Saitama Super Arena on September 30, 2022 in Saitama, Japan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
Kuminga Needs to Focus on 3 Things
Curry, Green, Butler, and Horford are starters. Steve Kerr has made that much clear. While the head coach seems high on Moody, evidenced by his playing time in the preseason, Kuminga is expected to play a bigger role.
On offense, Kuminga is the third-best player behind Curry and Butler, and on defense, he’s no slouch, either. Plus, he brings a burst of athleticism to an aging lineup.
According to one expert, Kuminga needs to hone three areas of his game: free throws, defensive pressure, and outside shooting.
“If he can get to the foul line along with Jimmy, if he can get some foul shots in the game, and he’s aggressive in that manner, that can really be a useful thing for them,” outlined ESPN’s Tim Bontemps on October 9th. “He also needs to be a guy that can really guard on the ball and can hit an open 3, and that’s just not his skillset. He can guard on-ball, for sure, but he’s not going to be a guy who’s going to be comfortable taking a lot of catch-and-shoot 3s. The fit is just clunky.”
Kuminga shot 30.5% from deep last season, the worst mark of his career. With decreased pressure from defenses, there’s hope he can become a better shooter, although the path to easy buckets doesn’t come from behind the arc.
Warriors Need Kuminga to Take After Butler
Butler is known for two things: defense and intensity.
He is perhaps the single most competitive player in the NBA, making him a scary addition to the Warriors. His intensity also masks his status as one of the league’s biggest free-throw merchants.
Players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joel Embiid, and Trae Young are often criticized for their eagerness to draw contact. Last season, Butler took 7.1 free throws per game, good for second in the league behind SGA.
As a result, the Warriors’ free-throw rate improved from 28th before he arrived to first in the league.
Last season, Kuminga sank 3.3 free throws per game. In order to maximize his scoring, he needs to find more free points.
With Horford spacing the floor and opening room for Kuminga to get to the rim, expect him to find his way to the charity stripe more often. If he does, his value will only skyrocket for Golden State.
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