Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has never shied away from honesty. But his latest revelation may shed new light on the fractured relationship between him and Jonathan Kuminga, the team’s restricted free agent locked in a contract stalemate.
Speaking on the Aug. 8 episode of the “Glue Guys” podcast, Kerr admitted that player development — particularly with young prospects — has never been his strong suit.
“I really lean on my younger coaches,” Kerr said. “One of the ways the league is so different now is that we’re a developmental league. We don’t practice anymore, so we have to develop these 19-year-old kids who are coming in without much practice time. Frankly, I’m not great with it. I’m an older coach, a disciple of Phil [Jackson] and Pop [Gregg Popovich].”
It was a striking confession for a coach who has built his reputation on winning. Kerr has guided Golden State to four championships since taking over in 2014. But he came from an NBA era where rookies typically arrived polished and battle-tested after multiple years in college.
Kerr’s Old School Roots
Kerr himself entered the league in 1988 as a 50th overall pick by Phoenix after spending five years at Arizona. He forged a 16-year career as a steady role player, earning five championship rings alongside veteran-heavy rosters in Chicago and San Antonio.
“I lean on my younger staff to install development drills, decision-making stuff — things I never did or knew to teach,” Kerr explained. “The key is to empower the people who can do those things.”
While that approach has worked with some Warriors prospects, Kuminga’s case has become increasingly complicated.
Kuminga-Kerr’s Strained Partnership
Drafted seventh overall in 2021, Kuminga arrived in Golden State brimming with athleticism and upside. But despite flashes of brilliance, he has struggled to gain Kerr’s full trust.
Last postseason, Kerr reduced Kuminga to a situational role, relying on him only when Stephen Curry or Jimmy Butler were unavailable. The move frustrated the 22-year-old, especially after he closed the season with an eye-catching stretch: 24.3 points per game on 55.% shooting and nearly 39% from three over his final four games.
Still, Kerr was clear about where Kuminga stood.
“I’ve been asked to win,” he told “The TK Show” in May. “And right now, he’s not a guy who I can say, I’m going to play 38 minutes with the roster we have, Steph, Jimmy, and Draymond [Green], and put the puzzle together that way and expect to win.”
Battle Over the Future
The stalemate has since spilled into contract talks. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater, the Warriors have offered Kuminga a two-year, $45 million deal with a team option on the second year — a structure designed to maximize trade flexibility. The deal also included a stipulation requiring Kuminga to give up his inherent no-trade clause.
Kuminga has rejected the offer, unwilling to surrender control of his future to a franchise he believes has stunted his growth. The Warriors, meanwhile, have shut down sign-and-trade discussions after failing to find a return they deem valuable, according to ESPN.
Kerr’s candid admission about his struggles with developing young players only deepens the perception gap between coach and player.
For Kuminga, it reinforces the belief that his path to stardom may lie outside of Golden State. For Kerr and the Warriors, it’s a reminder that even a dynasty can face growing pains in a league that increasingly belongs to the next generation.
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