The Golden State Warriors were once hopeful that Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski would carry the torch after Stephen Curry and Draymond Green call it a day. However, neither Kuminga nor Podz is viewed as a future star by a group of NBA insiders.
No Warriors player was featured in ESPN’s annual “NBA 25 under 25 list,” which ranks the 25 best players in the league under the age of 25.
Kuminga, 23, and Podziemski, 22, were not featured in last year’s list, either.
This year’s list was topped by Victor Wembanyama, followed by Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Williams, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Evan Mobley, Cooper Flagg, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Johnson, to round off the top 10.
The 11 to 25 spots went to Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Duren, Deni Avdija, Stephon Castle, Kon Knueppel, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Suggs, Alex Sarr, Josh Giddey, Ausar Thompson and Reed Sheppard.
Warriors Future Not Bright
The projections paint a bleak future for an aging Warriors team that is trying to provide Curry, 37, a few more cracks at winning his fifth NBA championship.
The Warriors front office made a big-swing trade at last year’s deadline when they acquired two-time NBA finalist Jimmy Butler III. However, a Warriors team led by an aging Curry and Butler is not projected to compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets or San Antonio Spurs in this season’s playoffs.
Per multiple insiders, the Warriors view next season as the last chance for Curry, Butler and Draymond Green to capture a title. The trio’s contracts are strategically aligned to expire after the 2026-27 season, when a new era of Warriors basketball could unfold.
Kuminga’s Days Numbered
Podz has spoken about wanting to replace Curry as the new face of the Warriors.
“When they [Curry and Green] leave this thing, they got to leave it with somebody,” Podz told The Athletic’s Nick Friedell. “How can I have their trust? And they can go to [owner] Joe [Lacob] and [general manager] Mike [Dunleavy] and be like, “Hey, we want to leave it with him. He’s going to continue what we’re leaving.
“So, I think about that all time, and I set myself up in that position to have that. And there’s a lot of other things than just skill that you need to be in that position.”
While Podz could still prove to be a long-term member of the Warriors, Kuminga is widely expected to be on his way out in the coming months. The Congolese forward becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 15, following which the Warriors are expected to engage with reported suitors such as the Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns. Even if the Warriors fail to trade Kuminga, they can decline his Team Option for 2026-27, making him a free agent.
The Chicago Bulls have emerged as another suitor for Kuminga, per Marc Stein.
The Warriors (13-12) will face the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Friday in a game that will mark Steph Curry’s return from a five-game absence with a quad injury.
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