Golden State Warriors: What Jonathan Kuminga brings to GSW

With the 7th overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors selected Jonathan Kuminga. It is still uncertain if Kuminga will remain with the Warriors or be moved via trade.

Reports have come out saying that Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green have put pressure on management to bring in a star that fits their quickly closing championship window.

However, if he does not get traded from the team, he will bring a lot to the Warriors right away.

The Golden State Warriors selected Johnathan Kuminga with the seventh overall pick. If he remains with the team, he can bring a lot to the team.

The biggest way that he will contribute to the team is through his defensive ability. Kuminga already has an NBA build, he stands 6’8″ and weighs in at 220 lbs. Pairing this with a seven-foot wingspan and his incredible athleticism makes him arguably the most versatile defender in the draft.

This defensive versatility has led many to compare him to Jaylen Brown. He is more than capable of defending any player on the court no matter what position they play.

This makes him the perfect fit for the Warriors. This is the team that invented small ball basketball and they could take it to another level with Kuminga. He may go on to be considered the steal of this draft. There were points in the year that certain circles considered him to be the first overall pick in this draft.

Being added to a championship-contending roster in the Warriors will throw him right to the wolves. He will be expected to play at a very high level the minute he enters the league and if he does not he will face a great deal of scrutiny. However, he is more than prepared for that and already has some professional experience under his belt.

Kuminga is one of the first lottery players to come from the G-League rather than overseas or college. With the Ignite, he averaged 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.

This is truly remarkable when you take into account that he had to share the spotlight with other top prospects like Jalen Green. Along with this, they were playing against grown men who have played for a living their entire lives while Kuminga is only 18 years old.

Lastly, Kuminga’s natural position is small forward. If Klay Thompson is healthy this season, then the small forward position would have been the weakest position on their roster without Kuminga on the team. However, with him there they have a very complete starting five along with one of the most interesting starting fives.

With an array of veterans and young players in their starting lineup, it will be interesting to see how they mesh on the floor. However, there is no question that Kuminga has the talent to start for the Warriors and their fans should be eager to see him suit up for the Dubs.