The Golden State Warriors found their footing Monday night in Brooklyn, snapping back above .500 with a 120–107 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Stephen Curry was brilliant. Jimmy Butler was efficient. The bench overwhelmed Brooklyn.
Jonathan Kuminga, once again, was largely a spectator.
After the game, head coach Steve Kerr offered his clearest explanation yet for why Kuminga remains on the fringes of Golden State’s rotation — and why the forward has to stay ready despite the uncertainty.
Steve Kerr on Why Kuminga’s Minutes Aren’t Easy to Find
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty ImagesSteve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
Kerr acknowledged that Kuminga’s situation is not about effort or preparation. It is about fit.
“He’s not really a short-minute player,” Kerr said. “I played a bunch of guys eight, ten minutes. JK is a guy who needs his rhythm. He’s not like a Gui or a Pat who can just fly around for four minutes and come out. He needs some rhythm. He always has to stay ready.”
That explanation matters in the context of how the Warriors won Monday.
Golden State played 12 players at least 10 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back. The rotation leaned heavily on energy, defense, and quick decisions. It was not a night built for a player who thrives on extended runs and offensive flow.
“There’s a pathway there,” Kerr added. “But right now, it’s not there. Things change quickly in the NBA.”
The Nets Win Showed What the Warriors Are Prioritizing
The Warriors erased a 15-point first-quarter deficit by leaning into depth and defensive pressure.
Their bench outscored Brooklyn 58–27. Trayce Jackson-Davis, De’Anthony Melton, Will Richard, and Gary Payton II all made tangible impacts. The second unit generated steals, blocks, and tempo — exactly the traits Kerr referenced when discussing short-burst players.
That approach helped neutralize Brooklyn’s shooting night and steady the game until Curry and Butler closed.
It also highlighted where Kuminga currently sits.
Golden State did not need shot creation from the wing. They needed connectivity, ball movement, and defensive reliability. Those demands continue to shape the rotation more than raw athletic upside.
Jonathan Kuminga and the January 15 Reality
GettyGolden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr got brutally honest on Jonathan Kuminga’s uncertain future with the franchise.
Around the league, Kuminga’s situation is no longer viewed as temporary.
Once January 15 arrives — the date he becomes trade-eligible — rival teams expect the Warriors to listen. His contract, age, and stalled role make him one of the few movable pieces capable of anchoring a meaningful deal.
Kerr did not reference trades directly. But his comments underscored the tension at the center of Kuminga’s season.
The forward needs rhythm to succeed. The Warriors, right now, are winning games without offering it.
That gap has been widening for weeks.
Why the Warriors’ Direction Matters Here
Golden State improved to 17–16 with the win, but the season has been defined by volatility. Win streaks stall. Rotations shift. Urgency hangs over every decision.
The Warriors are chasing stability around Stephen Curry while balancing a roster that no longer cleanly supports every young piece.
Kerr’s message to Kuminga was honest, not dismissive.
Stay ready. Things change quickly.
But the subtext is impossible to ignore.
If Kuminga’s pathway is not opening on the floor, it may be opening somewhere else.
Final Word for the Warriors
Monday’s win showed exactly what Golden State values right now — depth, defense, and adaptability.
Steve Kerr’s comments clarified why Jonathan Kuminga remains on the outside of that picture, even as the team keeps winning.
With January 15 approaching, the next change may not come through minutes.
It may come through movement.
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