The 7th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga emerged as a force last season, setting career highs across the board including 16.1 PPG on 52.9% from the field. In 2024-25 he battled through injury to produce similar numbers in 47 games played, but he was less efficient in doing so: 15.3 PPG on 45.4% shooting. Meanwhile, his minutes dropped rom 26.4 to 24.3 per contest.
But injury was not the only thing keeping Kuminga off the court this season. His diminished role in the rotation came to the glaring forefront when he logged DNPs in Golden State’s decisive regular season finale and in the 7 vs 8-seed play-in game, a 121-116 Warriors win over Memphis.
Center Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr downplayed Kuminga’s absence. Green claimed it was matchup related and that fans would see him next round. “He’ll contribute,” he said. But for a player of Kuminga’s talent and potential, being relegated to the bench in the team’s most meaningful games cannot be a satisfactory role. A restricted free agent at season’s end, he may very well be gone according to one Warriors reporter.
In Love with Jimmy Butler, the Golden State Warriors Have Kicked Jonathan Kuminga to the Curb
As a restricted free agent, Kuminga is entitled to a qualifying offer from Golden State before exploring the market if he declines it. If another team offers him a contract, the Warriors have the right to match. If they do, Kuminga will be obligated to stay in Golden State.
But it seems unlikely that a) Kuminga would accept the initial qualifying offer or b) that the Warriors would be interested in competing for his services. After averaging over 30 minutes a night in December, Kuminga was sidelined by injury between January 4 and March 13. In the meantime, the Warriors went out and got Jimmy Butler, a trade that has reshaped their identity.
23-8 after Butler’s arrival, Golden State surged to the 7-seed after dropping as low as 12th earlier this season. Losing to the Clippers in game 82 dropped them to the play-in, but they got by the Grizzlies via 38 points from Butler and 37 from Steph Curry. They will play the 2-seed Rockets in round one.
In this new roster landscape, Kuminga has seen his playing time curtailed. Since returning from injury, he has played more than 25 minutes once (28 min) in 15 games. Besides being benched, in four of his last five appearances he logged under 20.
It is hard to see Kuminga being excited about his future in Golden State. Likewise, the team has moved on to other lineups. A twitter report by Legion Hoops indicates that Tim Kawakami, who covers the Warriors for The San Francisco Standard, does not envision a continuing marriage between the two parties:
REPORT: Jonathan Kuminga is unlikely to be on the Warriors next season, per @timkawakami.
(via @WillardAndDibs) pic.twitter.com/QMvurYBsna
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 18, 2025
Why Kuminga Failed To Regain His Standing
For all his improvements, one of Kuminga’s hobbling traits remains his lack of long-range prowess. Despite shooting 37% on threes as a sophomore, his accuracy has dipped to 32.1% and now 30.5% the past two seasons.
Butler is not a shooter; neither is Green. Kevon Looney, who continues to get minutes at center, is limited to the paint. Kuminga is a poor fit alongside any two of those three. The Warriors are no longer the Splash Brothers juggernaut of old. Beyond Curry, they have precious little marksmanship from reliable sources.
Although they finished 2nd in three-point attempts and 4th in makes, their 36.4% success rate ranks 16th. Buddy Hield, acquired last offseason for his sniping volume, is a liability on defense and may have his minutes further slashed in the playoffs. Moses Moody has replaced him effectively in the starting lineup, but Hield remains the only Warrior besides Curry averaging two or more made threes per game.
Because of his mediocre three-point shooting Kuminga fails to help the team in a critical area. Neither is he a trustworthy free-throw shooter at 66.8%. Also 6’7, Jimmy Butler slides naturally into Kuminga’s spot at power forward as Golden State trots out three-guard lineups with Curry, Moody and Brandin Podziemski.
Butler is also the superior defender and playmaker. Kuminga’s lack of shooting or defensive grit makes him a less than ideal bench option. Since his injury, Butler’s arrival and the revamping of the team’s chemistry, Kuminga has not been re-integrated into the offense.
The writing is on the wall. Things might change, of course, if Kuminga becomes integral to beating Houston in the first round. But if he continues playing on the fringes or not all, he’ll probably be packing his bags, win or lose, before the series is over.
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