Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Is relationship between Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga salvageable?

By Bryan Eglesia | Last updated Aug 1, 2025 9:53 AM ET

Relationships in life are a two-way street. Whether it's a working relationship between a coach and a player, or a veteran and a rookie, many factors contribute to sustaining a healthy relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships in professional sports plays a significant role in being a successful franchise.

One of the most successful organizations over the last decade, the Golden State Warriors, is the gold standard of the NBA in maintaining relationships. But has the relationship between the organization and its best young player, Jonathan Kuminga, reached a point of no return?

The Warriors are the only team who haven’t made a move in free agency, and the holdup is what the organization will do with Kuminga’s restricted free agency. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Kuminga has been given multiple offers, from a qualifying offer of one year for $7.9M to a two-year contract for $40M.

There are reports, including from Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of ESPN, that the young forward is not happy with his situation and relationship with the organization. Charania and Slater also reported that the Warriors offered Kuminga a two-year, $45M contract.

On Jonathan Kuminga declining the Warriors' free agent offers and what comes next for NBA Today with @malika_andrews and @anthonyVslater: pic.twitter.com/d4I9qmgB2k
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 30, 2025

According to Charania and Slater, citing sources, Kuminga’s camp won't accept an offer largely because of "the Warriors' insistence on having a team option for the second season and their unwillingness to let him maintain the built-in no-trade clause..."

Kuminga also feels the team "has stunted and strung his career along for four seasons," according to Charania and Slater.

If he won't accept an offer of two years for $45M, which the organization feels is a fair offer, then this relationship seems unsalvageable, and a breakup seems inevitable between the two sides.

There seem to be only two avenues this will lead down. One avenue is that Kuminga plays on the qualifying offer and becomes a restricted free agent after next year. Another more likely option is that he takes the two-year, $45M deal and works with the organization to be traded to a preferable destination that is beneficial for both parties.

Ultimately, Kuminga appears to be upset and at his wits' end, and it seems like he wants a fresh start. For the organization to be at its best, it cannot have a player on its roster and in its organization who doesn't want to be there.

Bryan Eglesia

Bryan Egleisa is a content producer located in the Bay Area, California. As a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, he holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He focuses on the Golden State Warriors & the NBA

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