Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr will give a verdict on whether fans will watch Jonathan Kuminga in the playoffs.
For years, the Golden State Warriors have been grooming Jonathan Kuminga to be the next big thing for their team after the star’s current core retired.
Many have been hoping that Kuminga will play a new role this season, but for now, it appears that Dub has stopped experimenting.
Certainly, Jimmy Butler’s arrival led to a fall in Kuminga, but the 22-year-old contradictory show helped little in his case.
The past few weeks have not been easy for Cuminga. After all, he received multiple DNPs as head coach Steve Kerr relies on other options.
Ahead of the Warriors’ first round matchup with the Houston Rockets, coach Kerr revealed whether there are plans to include Kuminga in the rotation.
“You have to read what you need, you have to read who’s playing together, and to be very frank, the Jimmy/JK (Kuminga) combination isn’t great, and that’s the tricky part here.
“And Jimmy is playing Jimmy for 40 minutes because Jimmy is one of the best players in the league. And there’s a reason we’re here, we’re at the seventh seed…
“And because it’s Jimmy, my job as a coach is to keep my team on a path I think gives them the best chance to win, and for now I’ve been leaning towards the lineup I have.”
Now, Kerr’s response suggests that Warriors fans shouldn’t expect Kuminga to be inserted into the lineup as long as the current rotation helps the team win the game.
At the age of 22, Kuminga might already become an NBA champion, but he feels his warrior career will end sooner than later.
Warriors veterans tried to lift Cuminga’s mood during this transition. Even NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins has urged manager Kerr to put his pride aside and reinsert Kuminga into the lineup.
At the end of the day, Coach Kerr and his recent decision to comment suggest that the young forward will not receive minutes immediately.