The Golden State Warriors received mixed news this week: franchise star Stephen Curry is sidelined with a quad injury, but rising forward Jonathan Kuminga is nearing his long-awaited return.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Kuminga has targeted Saturday’s home game against the New Orleans Pelicans as his first game back after missing seven straight contests with bilateral patellar tendinitis — inflammation in the tendons below both kneecaps.
“Kuminga… told ESPN that he was aiming to be back for Saturday’s home game,” Slater reported Thursday.
The timing couldn’t be more significant. Kuminga’s return comes just as Curry’s injury threatens to derail Golden State’s season.
Warriors Send Kuminga to G League — But It’s Not a Demotion
Golden State stunned fans on Wednesday by assigning Kuminga, De’Anthony Melton and forward Gui Santos to the Santa Cruz Warriors. The announcement sent social media into a frenzy, with speculation centered on Kuminga’s role, his relationship with Steve Kerr, and whether the team was preparing for a trade.
But Slater quickly clarified that the move is not disciplinary and does not change Kuminga’s standing.
“[They] were assigned to Santa Cruz so they could scrimmage,” Slater wrote. “Kuminga and Melton [are in the] late stages of injury return… They’ll be recalled after.”
Both players are ramping up conditioning as part of the final step toward rejoining the active roster.
Curry Injury Sparks Crisis at Crucial Moment
GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors lies on the floor in pain after colliding with Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets.
Kuminga’s return now takes on new urgency. Curry left Wednesday’s 104–100 loss to the Houston Rockets with a right quad contusion that will sideline him “around a week or a little more,” per Slater and ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Rockets were missing Kevin Durant, but the Warriors still collapsed — falling to .500 at 10-10.
Curry’s night spiraled after a violent sequence of collisions. First, he banged knees with Alperen Şengün while fighting through a screen. Moments later, Amen Thompson barreled into him on a charge that was overturned on review. Not long after, Curry was knocked off balance diving for a loose ball and stayed on the floor before limping to the bench.
With 35 seconds remaining, Warriors director of sports medicine Rick Celebrini signaled that Curry could not continue. Curry left the court without a word, finishing with 14 points, seven turnovers and a pronounced limp.
The Warriors now face two home games followed by a daunting five-game road trip against playoff-caliber teams — a stretch that could determine whether the franchise pursues a major trade or begins to pivot toward the future.
Kuminga’s Return Could Be a Turning Point
Kuminga averaged 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists before his injury, but his role — and relationship with Kerr — remains under scrutiny. Slater previously reported that Kuminga “feels like the scapegoat again” after a reduction in minutes earlier this season.
Before the Rockets loss, Kerr sounded encouraged about Kuminga’s progress.
“He did three-on-three before practice and that went well,” Kerr said. “[Wednesday] he will scrimmage… That’ll give us a good gauge for where he is.”
Kerr said the decision will rest with Celebrini after the scrimmage.
“He’ll talk to JK and see how he feels, and the two of them will make that decision.”
Now, with Curry out, Kuminga’s return becomes more than an injury update — it’s a test of whether the Warriors can still salvage their season.
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