Jonathan Kuminga stepped into the Golden State Warriors starting lineup following Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension. That role change coincided with some of the best basketball of Kuminga’s career, offensively and defensively. Kuminga’s current hot streak continued when the Warriors overcame the Washington Wizards on Friday (Dec. 22.)
The third-year forward enjoyed a strong game, producing 22 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal performance while shooting 81.8% from the field and 50% from 3-point range. That performance led Steve Kerr to praise Kuminga’s current performance level during his post-game press conference, where he specifically noted the growth in Kuminga’s passing and court vision.
“The plays that Jonathan is making that are really making me smile are the extra passes,” Kerr said. “He had another one where he hit Klay for three. He wasn’t seeing those plays over the last couple of years. Now, he’s really starting to feel and see the extra pass, especially when it’s to Steph and Klay. You’re playing with arguably the two greatest shooters of all time. Get them the ball, and quickly…JK’s been fantastic. I think this is the best stretch of basketball he’s ever played.”
Kuminga, 21, is still developing. His talent is unquestionable, and his athleticism brings a different dimension to Golden State’s rotation. Now that his processing speed is improving and the game is slowing down for him, he will likely continue to evolve as a passer and begin to impact games in new ways.
"I think this is the best stretch of basketball he's ever played."
Kerr discusses JK's huge strides this season 📈 pic.twitter.com/DSAIcHBC2H
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 23, 2023
If Kuminga continues to impress and perform at his current level, it will be interesting to see what happens with the starting lineup once Green eventually returns to the rotation.
