It all began with head coach Steve Kerr loosening the reins and beginning Kuminga, spurred by an impromptu midseason one-on-one between the two. The veterans, specifically Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson, came to regard him as a need rather than a luxury. They are no longer confident in their ability to win a championship without Kuminga. In fact, Thompson acknowledges that Kuminga is “the future of the franchise.”
Kuminga, a big forward who enjoys attacking the rim, averages 16.2 points per game and shoots 53.0 percent from the floor. However, after being designated a full-time starter on January 27, Kuminga has improved even more. In his last 24 games, the third-year player has averaged 19.5 points and shot 52.8 percent from the field. He’s also become a more versatile player throughout that time, averaging 5.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 stocks a game.
The Warriors continue to rely on Curry’s prowess more than any other player. After all, Curry might still be in his prime. At age 36, he averages 27.0 points and 4.9 assists per game. He’s also more efficient than ever, shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three. Curry has led the NBA in total 3-pointers for the third time in four seasons.
However, Kuminga’s performances could now be the deciding element in Golden State’s success. At barely 21 years old, he is only scraping the surface of his abilities. To that point, Kuminga’s current level of productivity supports Thompson’s opinion that he represents the franchise’s future.
Jonathan Kumingas’ Next Steps
Kuminga needs to improve his outside shooting after hitting a career-high 37.0 percent of his threes previous season.
This season, he’s just shooting 32.4 percent from three. Since becoming a full-time starter, his efficiency has improved slightly (34.9 percent), but it remains below average. Of course, an outside jumper is not the only way to score. Nonetheless, the fear of an efficient outside jumper will cause opponents to play him closer. This ultimately gives him even better possibilities on drives because players cannot easily play off him to reduce the danger of his athleticism.
If Kuminga is going to be the Warriors’ go-to scorer, as he appears to be, he must also improve his playmaking skills. A big portion of this just demands patience, as Kuminga continues to improve his awareness, IQ, and ability via experience. However, an offseason focused on read-and-react and passing exercises will help him progress significantly.
