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Jonathan Kuminga’s Hawks Arrival Doesn’t Boost Output

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Rakin Harrasy | Last updated Mar 29, 2026 2:47 AM ET

Jonathan Kuminga has been with the Atlanta Hawks since early February, but his game remains largely unchanged.

When Kuminga joined the Hawks earlier this season, some expected the new environment to help elevate his game. A change of scenery often allows players to take on different roles or even larger responsibilities than they had with their previous team. However, after ten games, Kuminga has remained largely the same player, just in a different jersey. While his level of athleticism or scoring flashes shouldn’t be discredited, the Hawks’ strong run cannot be credited to him alone.

Jonathan Kuminga’s Hawks Arrival Doesn’t Boost Output

New Team, Same Role

The former Golden State Warriors forward was never the focal point of the team, and the same applies with the Hawks. Kuminga continues to play a supporting role, though many expected a shift in responsibility once he arrived in Atlanta. For a player who desperately wanted to leave the Warriors, the 23-year-old’s overall production has stayed the same. This season, Kuminga has played roughly the same amount of minutes with both teams, averaging 22-23 per game. It’s unfortunate the NBA has yet to see the level of growth once predicted for him, as his expectations remain similar. This raises the question of whether Kuminga may have been better off staying in Golden State.

Production Tells a Similar Story

The 2022 NBA champion’s numbers tell a similar story since his move from the Warriors. Despite scoring an impressive 27 points in his Hawks debut, Kuminga now averages just 11.8 points per game. Surprisingly enough, that figure is slightly lower than his production with the Warriors, where he averaged 12.1 points per game earlier this season.

When Kuminga finally faced his former team last week, many expected him to deliver a statement performance. The Hawks won the game comfortably, 126-110, but the result was not due to the new arrival. Instead, the highly-anticipated matchup ended quietly for the young forward as he finished with just two points. Kuminga went 1-9 from the field in 22 minutes and disappointed many; he struggled to make any significant impact against an injury-riddled team. Atlanta was supposed to be a chance for Kuminga to finally shine, but the numbers suggest the desperate need to change scenery was never the real issue.

Hawks’ Success Comes From Elsewhere

The Hawks have been one of the hottest and most underrated teams in the league in the second half of the season. As February gave way to March, they put together an 11-game winning streak, their longest in over a decade. As a result, they’ve remained competitive during the most critical part of the season, sitting in play-in territory at ninth in the East. With the playoffs just around the corner, their run of form has come at a perfect time. When the Hawks dealt Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, questions immediately arose about who would step up in Atlanta. Players such as Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson immediately answered that call, contributing on both ends of the floor and helping the team maintain consistency. While Kuminga remains part of the rotation, the Hawks’ recent success has largely been driven by the team’s consistency and overall form. His impact has been minimal, raising the question of whether the move to Atlanta was the right choice for his career. Was his decision to request a trade driven more by emotion than long-term strategy?

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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