Rumor: Jonathan Kuminga Believes Warriors Have Stunted And Strung His Career

Jonathan Kuminga believes the Golden State Warriors have stunted and strung his career along for four seasons, according to NBA insiders Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of ESPN. 

The Warriors made another push to re-sign Kuminga over the past several days, but the restricted free agent is continuing to decline their two-year, $45 million contract offer.

Kuminga has received interest from the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, two teams in the same division as the Warriors. 

Golden State has Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, making it difficult for Kuminga to become a featured option. 

Multiple sources told Hoops Wire that Kuminga doesn’t have a good relationship with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and wants to leave Golden State. 

“Kuminga believes accepting the Warriors’ two-year offer with a team option, along with forfeiting trade veto rights, cedes too much control to a franchise he believes has stunted and strung his career along for four seasons, sources said,” Charania and Slater wrote. “The Suns and Kings have pitched Kuminga on the type of defined role that has eluded him with the Warriors.

“Kerr made several comments after the Jimmy Butler trade that Kuminga’s fit alongside Butler, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green made it difficult to play him consistent big minutes. Sources said Kuminga is more enticed with the external options while viewing Kerr as someone who has made it clear there is not a defined big-minute opportunity every night with the Warriors.”

Kuminga has career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists with the Warriors. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. 

Last season, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Warriors in 47 games. The 22-year-old forward shot 45.4% from the field, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line. 

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