Confidence keeps rising for Kuminga
Those who have closely monitored Jonathan Kuminga’s progress in recent games understand his graduation into a more solidified role with the Golden State Warriors has much to do with a better understanding of the team’s free-flowing offensive concepts and a greater commitment to defense.
The 20-year-old also is playing like a grown man at both ends of the court and making better use of his athletic gifts.
“We’ve been telling him that since his rookie year, that he’s one of the strongest guys in the league already even though he’s only 20,” center Kevon Looney said. “So he’s starting to use his gifts more and more as he gets comfortable out there on the court. I think the game is slowing down for him, I think, and it’s been great to see.”
Two plays in recent games immediately come to mind — one from a Warriors loss, and another from a win.
In the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 124-123 loss to Utah last Wednesday, Kuminga used his 6foot-8, 210-pound frame to post up a smaller Nickeil Alexander-Walker, then caught Donte DiVincenzo’s entry pass with the shot clock running down and went to work.
Kuminga decided to attack, quickly turning over his right shoulder and taking a few dribbles toward the rim with his left hand while protecting the ball with a slightly extended right forearm. Only problem was Alexander-Walker, a 6-5 guard, had the necessary speed to stay in front.
And what did Kuminga do? He countered Alexander-Walker’s chest bump with physical right shoulder, took the bump and finished with a two-handed dunk through contact — then let out a roar as if he were saying AlexanderWalker was too small.
These are the plays that shift momentum. These are the plays that make a difference. And these are the kind of decisive and aggressive plays Kuminga wasn’t consistently making last season.
“I think the biggest thing is JK is just being JK,” DiVincenzo said. “He’s not overthinking. He’s not doing anything. He’s just being himself.”
Then there was Kuminga’s ferocious put-back dunk over Jayson Tatum in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 123-107 win over Boston on Saturday.
Similar to the play against Utah, Kuminga posted up Tatum with the shot clock running down, went to work and took his time. His first shot was blocked, but he stuck with it, got it back and threw down a right-handed dunk on the Celtics’ forward.
“I wasn’t going for the dunk at first,” Kuminga said. “Just have to make a play, just have to make something happen. But I ended up getting a dunk and I was just happy to be in that moment.”
For Kuminga, it’s a simple calculus: physicality plus patience equals production. And he’s beginning to impose his will on opponents more with each game. Heading into Tuesday’s game at Milwaukee, he had averaged 10.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and two assists in 21.4 minutes per game in his past six games on the court while shooting 69.2% from the field. He went 6-for-10 from the floor en route to 19 points in the loss to the Bucks.
“I just think he’s getting more comfortable on the floor, with his role and with recognizing what’s happening, when to make a play and when to move the ball along, and that comes with experience,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “And that’s what we’re seeing right now. He’s just focused on his defense and helping the team win. As he’s doing that, opportunities are popping up for him to attack and get to the rim.”