Jonathan Cuminga had the opportunity to wait with Stephen Curry injured.
The regular season backend wasn’t the way Jonathan Kuminga intended.
He was injured in January and upon his return, Andrew Wiggins left and Jimmy Butler had to arrive and return to his new look team.
Cuminga only played 12.2 minutes per game after an All-Star break, after a decrease from 16.8 per game per game.
This led him to be a well-known DNP for a key game, against the Clippers in the season finale and to him in the Grizzlies in the play-in tournament.
There have been many questions about Kuminga’s future since, but in the short term he is called amid injuries and still has a role to play.
Cuminga played 26 minutes in Game 2 with the Rockets when Butler was injured and spent another 26 minutes in Game 2 with Stephen Curry with the Timberwolves.
Curry’s injury keeps him out of multiple games, which means Kuminga could be extended.
Jonathan Cuminga’s performance was a big topic of the defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Golden State Warriors Game 2, with the series tied 1-1.
Warriors legend Chris Marin likes what he saw from Jonathan Cuminga and is pleased that he has gotten a more substantial run to show what he can do.
Speaking to the Warriors Post Games show on NBC, he said:
“He’s a big time player and a big time talent.”
Former Warriors star Festus Ezeli liked what he saw from Cuminga and looked at how he tried his best to get his team back into the game.
He states: “The run that was run in the third quarter led the JK, which was hard to believe in seeing him. He hit a shot from midrange.
“These are the reasons why he says his athleticism could be an X-factor for this team, not just this round, but whether he can get Steph back and continue moving forward. I think JK and his role are crucial.
“But for now, there’s no Steph, so you need his ability to really give them punches and Steve Kerr realizes he’ll start a high schooler in the second half, so you did that run.”
Jonathan Cuminga scored 18 points, matching his best NBA playoff performance of all time against Memphis in 2022.
This number speaks to the lack of overall progress, but when it comes to competition this year, Jonathan Cuminga’s numbers are a positive trend, with his previous best rockets earning the best points against the rockets.
Ezeli believes that the more Kuminga plays, the better he will perform, and hopes he will have a sustained opportunity.
“Jonathan Cuminga hasn’t gotten a few minutes to show what he has, he’s a bit out of rhythm.
“Now, this is a chance for Steve Kerr to really have a JK.
“He can score, he can defend, you have to move him and get him back into the system.”