One of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets over the last couple seasons has been that Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors were headed for a divorce. Kuminga was drafted in 2021 with the expectation that he would be part of Golden State’s reset when Stephen Curry retired.
Instead, he and head coach Steve Kerr butted heads from the beginning. Kuminga wanted a prominent on-ball role, but Kerr saw him as more of a Shawn Marion or Aaron Gordon. He wanted Kuminga to buy into that role, but that never came to fruition.
The two sides finally cut ties at the trade deadline, where the Warriors sent Kuminga to the Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis. Even though Kuminga hasn’t played much for his new team, one thing has become clear.
The Hawks could be the spot where Jonathan Kuminga flourishes
In two games with his new club, Kuminga has averaged 22 points per game, eight rebounds, and four assists on 67 percent shooting and 57 percent from three-point range. Granted, this is only a two-game sample size and both games have come against the lowly Wizards, but this could be a sign of things to come for the young forward.
Kuminga has the on-ball role that he has been wanting for his entire young career. The floor is spaced, he is able to get to the rim, and he looks confident when it comes to making decisions with the ball.
It remains to be seen how Kuminga fits with All-Star forward Jalen Johnson, but Atlanta has been looking for shot-creation to pair next to him since they traded away Trae Young to Washington.
Kuminga has the size and versatility to fill that role next to Johnson and if his shooting continues to improve, then the fit becomes even cleaner for the two forwards. Their blend of athleticism and slashing could cause problems for defenses.
When he came into the league, Kuminga was expected to be a star. He has the athletic profile and size to become a valuable two-way wing for a winning team. He showed flashes of it with the Warriors, but his role was too inconsistent for him to put it all together.
He won’t have that with the Hawks, as the competition for touches isn’t as stiff. A fresh start for the forward could be exactly what he needs to realize his potential and could make Golden State regret moving him for an aging, injury-prone center.