Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga will miss his fifth consecutive game due to bilateral knee tendinitis when the team returns to Chase Center to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. The latest NBA injury report ruled Kuminga out with the lingering knee issue after he was forced to exit early against the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 12.
The 23-year-old forward has been battling discomfort for nearly two weeks and the team has chosen a cautious approach despite the Warriors’ up-and-down start.
Stephen Curry Cleared; Butler, Green and Hield Listed as Probable
Golden State received a boost on Thursday as Stephen Curry was cleared to return from his ankle injury after missing the final two games of the Warriors’ six-game road trip. The team also listed starters Jimmy Butler (back) and Draymond Green (illness), along with Buddy Hield (illness), as “probable.”
They all missed Wednesday’s 110–96 loss to the Miami Heat, where Golden State played without Curry, Butler, Green, Kuminga and center Al Horford.
Kuminga Feels Like the ‘Scapegoat’ in Warriors’ Struggles
GettyJimmy Butler had a lot to say on the pressure, uncertain future, and trade rumors Jonathan Kuminga is facing with the Golden State Warriors.
Despite his promising start, Kuminga is reportedly frustrated with how he has been treated during the team’s early struggles. A team source told ESPN’s Anthony Slater that Kuminga “feels like the scapegoat again” after being demoted to the bench when the Warriors’ rotations became unstable following a 4–1 start.
“Kuminga’s turnovers spiked and performance dipped. Searching for rotation answers, Kerr demoted Kuminga back to a bench role, reopening old wounds,” Slater wrote.
Kuminga averaged 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists through nine games while his turnovers climbed from 2.4 per game to 3.1 per game during his final seven appearances before the injury.
Warriors Won Without Him, But Butler Says Winning Isn’t About Kuminga
Golden State won three straight immediately after Kuminga went down — a trend that might have intensified speculation. However, Butler pushed back on the idea that the Warriors improved simply because Kuminga wasn’t playing.
“Him not being in the lineup ain’t the reason that we’re winning,” Butler said. “We’re just playing better basketball. Roles are clearer. We’re making shots. We’re guarding. That ain’t got nothing to do with him.”
Kuminga Felt Like a ‘Human Trade Exception’ This Summer
Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million extension in October, but Slater reported that the former lottery pick believed he was being treated like a “human trade exception,” with his future not fully secure even after signing the deal.
Internally, there is acknowledgment that Kuminga’s contract does not guarantee long-term status in Golden State’s core.
Kuminga Expected to Come Off the Bench Upon Return
Head coach Steve Kerr has settled into a new starting lineup featuring Moses Moody and rookie Will Richard alongside Curry, Butler and Green. Kuminga is expected to return as a sixth-man scoring option, a shift the team hopes will give him more offensive freedom without competing for touches with Curry.
Butler Mentoring Kuminga: ‘You Asked for This’
Butler has taken an active mentoring role with Kuminga after the forward’s tense contract discussions.
“He listens to me,” Butler told ESPN. “When JK doing some [expletive], I’m going to tell him we can’t have that.”
According to Butler, Kuminga must embrace pressure instead of blaming others.
“Draymond nailed it,” Butler said. “He said, ‘Hey, you asked for this.’… You can’t let this [expletive] affect how you play.”
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