The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga have been locked in contract drama all summer. Now, the situation has escalated to a new low.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Kuminga is “absolutely miserable” with the Warriors and a breakup between player and franchise feels inevitable.
“You’re making this about the money,” MacMahon said Tuesday on The Hoop Collective podcast. “He’s miserable. He is absolutely miserable,” he continued. “It is a bad situation. A breakup that needs to happen sooner than later,” MacMahon added. “It is a terrible situation for him. He was getting DNP-CDs in the playoffs. The coach doesn’t want him. The coach doesn’t believe in him. And the coach has publicly said over and over that he does not fit with the core of this team.”
Warriors’ Contract Offer Hasn’t Fixed the Rift
Golden State recently increased its contract proposal to Kuminga — three years, $75.2 million with a team option for the third season. But MacMahon stressed the dispute isn’t just about numbers.
Kuminga’s frustrations go deeper. The 22-year-old forward has struggled to carve out a consistent role under Steve Kerr. Even after flashes of brilliance, he was left with multiple DNP-CDs in key games last season — including in the playoffs. For a player taken No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, the lack of trust from the coaching staff has become a breaking point.
Ups and Downs in Golden State
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesJonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
The four years since Kuminga entered the league have been uneven. He’s shown stretches of two-way potential, athleticism, and scoring bursts. Yet Kerr’s rotations have often squeezed him out of meaningful minutes.
The low point came at the end of last season, when Kuminga didn’t see the floor in some of Golden State’s most important contests. But when the Minnesota Timberwolves knocked the Warriors out in the second round — and Stephen Curry was sidelined — Kuminga delivered one of his best stretches as a pro. His energy and scoring kept Golden State competitive, even if it wasn’t enough to advance.
That postseason performance fueled his confidence entering restricted free agency. He and his camp have pushed for a larger role and a contract with more stability.
What’s Next for the Warriors and Kuminga?
With training camp less than two weeks away, the Warriors are running out of time to solve the standoff. Golden State reportedly wants to maintain “maximum flexibility” in 2027, leaving them hesitant to give Kuminga a deal with long-term guarantees. Kuminga, meanwhile, has made clear that security and opportunity matter as much as money.
The comments from MacMahon only reinforce how fragile things have become. The Warriors don’t want to lose a young player for less than they believe he’s worth. Kuminga doesn’t want to spend another season minimized behind the veteran core.
The gap between the two sides has never felt wider. And unless something changes quickly, a divorce may be the only way forward.
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