Kuminga' bench play will be crucial for Warriors' next stretch
Yesterday at 09:18 PM
Can Kerr find a way to get Kuminga balling at an elite level this season?
If the Golden State Warriors want to climb the mountain for the fifth time in the Stephen Curry-era and win the NBA title, they'll need Strength in Numbers to align like it's never have before.
The team doesn't have the superstar power of championship teams past, but they have shown flashes of team chemistry and efficiency that could be dangerous if it gels by the time by the postseason.
A major component of that will be whether or not fourth-year man Jonathan Kuminga's can be in a star in his role with the team.
That highly touted Warriors depth started out pretty good this season, but with plenty more weight on it's shoulders over the last week or so has seemingly crumbled.
— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) November 28, 2024
It's becoming evident now that the 12-man strength in numbers concept works effectively only when all the critical roles are being covered. It's also so blatantly clear now how CRITICAL JK is to this team, and how ineffective the bench unit is without him.
— Sam Orlik (@sdorlik) November 26, 2024
During the team's current three-game losing streak, Kuminga has missed two of the contests. He's averaging 13.6 PPG with 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game in 16 contests. He's played 23 minutes per game, starting four of 'em. He's shooting a hair under 44%, and a rough 30% from beyond the arc.
The former #7 overall pick in the 2021 draft is the arguably most athletic player the Dubs have, a guy who can hound an opposing ball handler and then take it coast-to-coast to finish with authority above the rim.
But it's his growth in the other areas of the game (rebounding and shooting particularly) that can help him make the leap from role player to All-Star, as the Warriors are certainly are hoping is in his future.
Jonathan Kuminga's absence is showing how much this team needs him. The team's biggest strength had been the bench and that unit is primarily JK and Hield playing off each other. kuminga next to Curry has helped them close games and stall the opposing team's momentum. 1/2
— Swish Culture (@SwishCultureYT) November 26, 2024
You know who'd be good for a game like this? (And I'm somebody will get enraged at me for saying it -- again) ... Kuminga.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) November 26, 2024
