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Jonathan Kuminga Doesn't Hold Back On Relationship With Steve Kerr

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 15, 2025 8:23 PM ET

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga becomes a restricted free agent this summer. As a restricted free agent, Kuminga can either re-sign with the Warriors or sign an offer sheet with another team.

If Kuminga signs an offer sheet with another team, the Warriors would have 48 hours to match the deal or let the youngster walk.

According to Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, Kuminga and the Warriors are expected to explore sign-and-trade options this summer. Kuminga turns 23 in October. He has career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

During his exit interview on Thursday, Kuminga was asked to talk about his relationship with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who benched him near the end of the season and at the beginning of the playoffs before Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry got hurt.

Jonathan Kuminga on his relationship with Steve Kerr: “We’ve had ups and downs. But he helped me to get here.”

Kuminga kept answers about his future vague: “I don’t know.” pic.twitter.com/tIvzjuZihQ
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 15, 2025

Kuminga appeared in 47 games for the Warriors during the 2024-25 regular season. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field, 30.5% from 3 and 66.8% from the foul line.

According to Logan Murdock of The Ringer , Kerr grew "incensed" when Kuminga looked off Curry on offense during a Portland Trail Blazers game. That played a role in Kuminga's benching.

"Despite his talent, Kuminga’s propensity to look for his shot at the expense of the flow of Golden State’s offense has irked the coaching staff," Murdock wrote. "During a late-season game against the Blazers, team sources say Kerr was incensed after several instances in which Kuminga looked off Curry to create his own offense. Kuminga subsequently received DNPs in the Warriors’ regular-season finale against the Clippers and then again in their play-in matchup against the Grizzlies."

The Warriors beat the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in seven games but lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round in seven games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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