Jonathan Kuminga has high expectations for himself this season. The Warriors forward has set an individual goal of making his first All-Star appearance, he told Marc Spears of Andscape.
“That is my trajectory. That is what I’ve been working towards,” Kuminga said. “I did as much as I could working out, getting my body ready, learning the game, working on things on defense. It’s just a matter of when we start playing now and I can show what I’ve been working on and how my game has grown.”
The Warriors and Kuminga have an Oct. 21 rookie scale extension deadline and the forward will be a restricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t sign an extension.
“My agent is taking care of that. I need to focus on what I’m trying to accomplish. The more I accomplish, the more things like that handle themselves,” Kuminga said.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- The Kings’ NBA G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings, have named Gabriel Harris as general manager and Quinton Crawford as head coach, according to a team press release. Harris, 33, served as the assistant GM for Stockton last season. Crawford, 34, was an assistant coach with the Suns. He also served as an assistant with the Mavericks in 2022-23 and the Lakers from 2019-2022.
- LeBron James and Bronny James made history Sunday night as the first father and son to play together in an NBA game. They were on the court together at the start of the second quarter during the Lakers’ preseason game against the Suns. It coincided with Bronny’s 20th birthday. “For a father, it means everything,” LeBron said, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. “For someone who didn’t have that growing up, to be able to have that influence on your kids and have influence on your son. Be able to have moments with your son. And ultimately, to be able to work with your son. I think that’s one of the greatest things that a father can ever hope for or wish for.”
- The Suns shot 41% on 3-point attempts in their 118-114 win over the Lakers on Sunday. Kevin Durant saw some good signs offensively, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic tweets. “I liked that we generated good shots. We are able to get (21) 3s up in the 1st half,” he said. “Defensively, pick-and-roll coverage, it’ll get better. That’s where we struggled at the most.”
Most Improved Player Award, 2024-25
Winner: Moses Moody
2nd place: Jonathan Kuminga
You can’t win the most improved player award if you don’t get the minutes.
You can’t get the minutes unless you show in practice you’re worthy of playing time.
You can’t show your Worthy of time if you don’t have a clue and you’re not a dog.
You can’t be a dog on the floor if you don’t develop some kind of Killer Instinct from within yourself.
That’s a lot of steps Davey, to get where you say he’s going to get. I haven’t seen it the first 3 years. I hope he surprises me in year 4.
Moody is the best scoring guard not named Steph or Buddy on the team, he will get minutes if he scores at a good clip, which he does.
“You can’t be a dog on the floor if you don’t develop some kind of Killer Instinct from within yourself.” plenty of youtube highlight reels posted that show this instinct, we just had idiot Kerr arbitrarily decide Podz was better than Moody when that has never been true in any way other than running the floor as a PG.
Davey J , IMO, Moody is better than Hield. Buddy defends poorly. Buddy is the 3rd SG, valuable when Steoh sits. Unfortunately, Kerr doesn’t agree.
Moody is not as good as Melton, a proven starter on a very good team the past 2 seasons.
I’d play these these 5 guards only: Steph, Podz, Melton, Moody and Hield. GP2 & Lindy are reserves.
Huh? Kerr has publicly said that likes Melton starting alongside Curry.
YouTube highlight reels?? Have you heard of editing. Podz was only a rookie, but he already does a few things better than Moody.
After the Jordan Poole disaster, no need for the Warriors to sign Kuminga to an extension in October. Let the season play out and the market decide their value. The worst that can happen is a sign and trade.
Wisdom 101. JK has shown nothing so far but some Youth and athleticism. Let’s see how the market plays out for this guy next summer.
Youth and athleticism gets you Jermaine O’Neal on the Portland Trail blazers. Working on your game and developing skills get you Jermaine O’Neal on the Indiana pacers.
Gary , here we go again . At 21 years old:
– JK scored almost 17 ppg in 26 minutes. That’s -22 ppg in 34 mpg. He also shot 53%. He’s easily our 2nd best offensive player.
– In his starts, JK averaged over 21 ppg.
JK is ahead in his development with all his comps (Jaylen Brown, Kahwi, etc). All the numbers:
link to goldenstateofmind.com
Okay thumbs up, but can you get the ball to JK on the wing and tell him to get a bucket in crunch time to win a game? That’s all I’m asking for at 30 million a year.
You say his development comps are Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard but those guys can get my scenario done. Not sure if JK can in his fourth year in the league.
So you’re going to give him the money hoping it will happen in his sixth year in the league? The other two guys were super studs in their 6th year. JK is still figuring out what position he plays and blaming the coach for his lack of performance lol.
Gary , I agree with your lager point: it feels premature to be paying Kuminga the big contract.
But there is a league-wide problem here: the CBA effectively mandates that teams place future bets on their first round picks after year 3. Look around. Sure, Orlando loves Hans Wagner, but at $225M? And check out Cade Cunningham’s stats…worth $270M?! Emmanuel Quickley and Devin Vassell for $165M? WAT?! Ask Houston how they’re feeling about Jeremy Green knowing he’s due $250M. I think you get my point. It sucks, but teams gotta pay to play.
Two more things:
1. As inflated as rookie extension numbers look for year 1, they invariably look small by year 4 because the CBA intentionally schedules their year-to-year increase at a lower rate than the annual cap increase.
2. All the data shows that rookie extensions deals provide vastly superior returns to the max deals given to the veteran players, mainly because, one, younger players are improving in performance and availability while older players are declining in these. For example, Tatum and Green both played this year on the tail end of their rookie extensions for less than $35M. Compare that to the >$50M max deals that Kahwi, Butler, Lillard, Beal, etc are on. Very few max deals to players in their 30’s look good in year’s 3, 4 and 5.
It took me a long time to get comfortable with these new economics. But, here’s the point: A $30M for 5 year deal for a 21 yr old player with Kuminga’s profile is highly likely to be a good value in years 3 through 5, even if he doesn’t become a star. That contract could be exchanged immediately with multiple teams immediately. That’s why it’s incorrect to say the Warriors are waiting for Kuminga to show them more.
That is the best thing knowing he is a restricted free agent they can just match what another team offers. There will be very few teams that can offer him anything and those teams are bottom fedders in teh league.
Giants74 , respectfully, that’s not the way the Warriors are thinking. That’s why you see so few players in JK’S position unsigned by the end of their 4th year.
On the surface, it feels absurd to be offering a 21 yr old ~$150M. but the concensus around the league is that the Warriors have already done exactly that, and that Kuminga has declined.
Firat, it’s extremely difficult to trade an unsigned fourth year player. Second, playing the season unsigned creates unwanted tension amongst all stakeholders, potentially hurting performance.
But, most important of all, in the greater context of the CBA and how NBA teams assess risk, it’s virtually always better to place the bet on your 4th year first rounder now. The risk is great. You’ll lose some bets, as with Poole, but without these players you will not be a winning franchise (Lakers excluded).
Sure it’s risky to pay JK $150M now. But there is also substantial risk that the market for him this coming season will be MUCH higher. Check out what Toronto is doing, for example.
Aristotle, am I missing something. Where’d you get the $150mil number. He has stated he wants a max contract. $225 mil/5yrs. I’m with 74, no extension, see if that motivates an excellent year. No matter what, let the league dictate a number and then match or don’t match. Yessir, he excelled last year. But it’s one year just as Poole did.
ClaudeRaymond, respectfully, you guys are overlooking a couple of fundamentals principles around NBA economics.
Teams virtually never pass on restricted free agents in their fourth year. The CBA is structured to make it highly advantageous to extend these players (I can explain more about that if you’re interested). I can think of only one recent example where a team passed: Lonzo Ball and the Pels, 3 years ago, mainly because the Pels couldn’t afford it.
Regardless of anybody’s evaluation of his future success, or whether the Warriors intend to retain or trade him, Kuminga is the Warriors’ 2nd most valuable asset right now (after Steph), whether that be at $25M or $50M per year, because the market will pay him that range, and, more important, for 5 years. The Warriors will sign Kuminga. The only question is for how much and when.
You mention $225M / 5 yrs. To be clear, Kuminga himself has said nothing, and we have only second-hand reports of what his agent said a few months ago. FWIW, we expect any agent to say their player wants the maximum before at the outset of negotiations.
As expected, we heard last week from Dunleavy that Kuminga (i.e., his agent) and the FO have been in ongoing talks. That is not what an agent does if they have put a stake in the ground at a maximum. This is all par for the course.
What is your source for there being consensus that the Warriors have made Kuminga a contract offer? Kerr has publicly said that he wants to see a more consistent outside shot from JK. Why would Dunleavy go against Kerr? Kerr had expressed doubts about Poole before he signed his extension.
Giants74, see my response above to ClaudeRaymond, also intended for you. Also:
– Lakob said after the season that he wanted to get a deal with Kuminga done this summer and, also, that they had tried previously.
– Dunleavy has said the same several times, as recently as last week:
>
While pen has yet to be put to paper, Dunleavy remains optimistic about where things stand with negotiations, and he made it clear that he wants both players in a Warriors uniform for a very long time.
“Yeah, we’re working through that with them and their representation right now,” Dunleavy told reporters Thursday. “We’ve got a few more weeks. Good, positive conversations, without getting into too much detail. I think regardless of whether we get something done or not, we want those guys here.”
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Uh oh, drum roll please. Green Light Kuminga, jack it lol. This will end well pppfffttt.
We’ll see after the first dozen games if JK has worked on his outside shot or not. I think he has, he’s no dummy. It’s a contract year !!
Nrg82 , Kuminga shoots 53%.
Kuminga setting expectations of becoming an all-star?
How about being a dependable piece that helps his team more.
Athleticism won’t win you awards.
Apart from that, improving his shooting could be beneficial
What JK needs is to work on his game and get some moves. Look at another athletic player from the past, Dominique wilkins.
He had a variety of amazing scoring moves that benefited him greatly. I don’t think those were all Instinct I think you work on those spin moves to get open and I think you work on using your quickness and leaping ability to get buckets.
You’re right you can’t just rely on your athleticism to win Awards or ball games. There has to be some kind of skill involved to go with it to rise to the next level.
Gary , re the Wilkins comparison to Kuminga, Dominique played 3 years in college, and his first NBA game at 23 years old.
Kuminga has completed 3 seasons, and he’s only 21 years old. He’ll play 5 (“FIVE”) NBA seasons before Wilkins played his first season.
As a 23 year old rookie, after 3 years of college, Wilkins scored had 17 ppg in 33 mins per game, shot 18% from deep, and 49% from the field. At 23, Wilkins was not as good as Kuminga at 20.
Kuminga played in first organized basketball game at 15 years old. 3 years later, after skipping his senior year in HS and college altogether, he was playing in the G League with grown men.
Ari I don’t understand your point on your Wilkins rebuttal.
My point is that in today’s NBA you have to have it figured out by your third or fourth season. It’s payday at that time and teams need to decide whether to give it to you or not.
What I’m saying is I hope he worked on his game and he becomes the second All-Star for the Warriors. I’m saying I hope he worked on some moves and scoring proficient Maneuvers to the basket. I’m hoping he worked on his jump shot. I’m hoping he worked on his help defense.
That’s all I’m saying.
Dominique Wilkins had moves and was able to score at a high level. It doesn’t matter at 23 years old if you played 3 years in college or 3 years in the NBA. You’re still getting the workouts and the training and the coaching.
Wilkins knew how to get Buckets and use has incredible athleticism. Not sure I can say the same about JK right now.
Gary , I’m saying that all these criticisms of Kuminga overlook both, one, his age and, two, his progress relative to his age.
You say players have to have “figure it out” by their third or fourth year. Well, Kuminga is doing better than Jaylen Brown, Kahwi Leonard, Paul George, and Jimmy Butler at the same stage. Does that count?
link to goldenstateofmind.com
If you can’t see a lot of Lebron-esque things from Kuminga, you aren’t watching. If you expect a 21 year old to have the league immediately figured out, you are delusional.
If Kuminga is in the ASG then that means GSW’s dynasty is still alive. Stay scared, rest of the league!
So the 2nd star on the Warriors wants to be an All Star…
They need it…
They absolutely need it. Not sure Wiggins is going to show up but I’m hopeful.
DeAndre Melton has potential to be very good but let’s see if he’s 100% healthy first.
Buddy is who he is but he’s averaged 17 before if I remember correctly. That would be nice. Green’s in his mid 30s now, not going to happen. Podski is still young probably not at all star.
I guess JK is the only other potential All Star on the team. Yep he better come through if the Warriors are going to do anything this year.
If Wiggins and JK live up to their potential this team has hope of a WCF berth…
Without either player getting close they just don’t have enough on the wings…
And in todays NBA if you don’t have quality players on the wings, you are screwed…
What do you mean? Draymond has been to 4 All-Star games.
True but we’re talking about this coming year. Not sure Draymond Green will be an all-star. They do need a second and third guy to step up this season, or make trades to acquire such players.
People are sleeping on TJD. I see him becoming a star not next year but in 2 years.
TJDs time will be when Draymond is a coach or glued to the bench…
Kerr likes to play with 3 wings and a centre as their “big” line up…
Its crazy how many people in here have never watched GSW before.
Steph Curry is the #1 star
Steph Curry’s gravity is #2 star
There was no “second all-star” in 2021-22. GSW’s bench right now is maybe even better than 21-22. In 21-22 Wiggins, Poole and GP2 just benefited from Curry’s gravity the most. Wiggs has never been as good since because he’s not that good, he is a depth piece, which is fine if there’s plenty more depth out there, which there is. Podz was the guy last year who’s numbers got massively inflated simply by standing on the court at the same time as Steph. Podz isnt that good without Curry, that’s why Kerr shielded Podz from the second unit and we ended up finishing 10th because of it. Podz should have never been anything but the backup PG, not the starting SG “connector guy” aka Kerr’s favorite boy.
Gary from this comments section could probably avg 12 PPG if he played out there with Steph. Like, Curry’s gravity is THAT important. Everyone is ignoring this, its crazy to me….