The return of Jonathan Kuminga to the Golden State Warriors has been the leading storyline surrounding the franchise over the past few months. But after signing a contract extension with the team, even leaving the door open on a potential trade, Kuminga is back on the court for the Warriors in preseason action.
However, the young star’s preseason play was limited in Golden State’s latest game, as Kuminga was ejected against the Portland Trail Blazers after bumping into an official in reaction to a missed call.
With Kuminga ejected for the first time in his career, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gave a blunt response when asked about his feelings on the incident.
“I loved the way he played,” Kerr said in his postgame press conference. “I loved the fire, the passion. Don’t mind the ejection at all. I kind of liked it, actually. I thought JK was terrific tonight.”
Kuminga finished the game playing only 18 minutes, recording seven points, six rebounds, and four assists in that span before being ejected in the second quarter.
Kuminga Ejected, Kerr On Board
As seen with both his contract negotiations over the summer and his previous few years with Golden State, Kuminga wears his emotions on his sleeve, and the same could be seen during the play in which he was ejected.
The 23-year-old went up for a layup, and after not receiving the foul call, he had a strong reaction. Getting the call or not, Kerr said he had no problem with how the young wing handled the situation.
“He got fouled,” Kerr said. “It was a frustration play. I have no problem with it. He deserved the foul. He was getting fouled quite a bit. It was a physical game. And the way he ran on that play, the activity that he played with, the rebounding … that’s the JK who can really help our team.”
In the past, Kerr has criticized Kuminga’s fit with the team, but after resigning, the coach has had a more positive outlook on his integration with other stars like Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. Even after a short history of disagreements, Kuminga said he was glad Kerr had his back.
“It means a lot,” Kuminga said after the game. “Knowing that a lot of people got my back. Having people having my back, it’s not for me to let them down. Just keep doing what I’m doing, playing hard, just competing every moment.”
Kuminga is one of a few of Golden State’s top returning contributors who have played in each of the team’s four preseason games so far, but Kerr has yet to commit to him in the starting lineup.
Warriors Rookie On The Rise
With Kuminga ejected and out for the entire second half, Warriors’ rookie Will Richard was subsequently given a larger role in the preseason game against Portland. After being drafted 56th overall, Richard, out of Florida, finished the game with 13 points and six rebounds.
His numbers fell far behind Curry’s game-high 28 points, but Kerr said he was pleased with how the rookie competed against NBA talent.
“Will’s good,” Kerr said. “Will really knows how to play. He’s in the right spots all the time. He’s active defensively. He sees the game well. Knocked down his 3s tonight, and we’re really excited about him. He’s a very good player.”
Richard signed a four-year, $8.6 million guaranteed rookie contract over the summer, after the Kuminga deal, as well as Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Seth Curry signings were completed.
After averaging 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while leading the Florida Gators to a national championship, Richard arrives in the Bay Area with a real chance of getting significant playing time. He’ll likely be behind guards like Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, and Moses Moody on the depth chart, but Kerr said anyone on the roster has the chance to play impactful minutes.
“If you’re on the roster, there’s always gonna be a path,” Kerr added. “So much happens during the (82-game season), and I know one thing: I won’t hesitate to put him out there. I have a lot of confidence in him already.”
Curry, Butler, and Green will be the deciding factors for Golden State this season, but strong minutes from players like Kuminga and Richard will also be key if this team expects to compete for a title.
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