Steph Curry Breaks Silence on Jonathan Kuminga Situation

“Really, the hardest part is, whether it’s going well or whether it’s not, (is) not losing your spirit,” Curry said. “That’s been JK’s challenge as a young player. Things change so quickly, and there’s all these declarations about who he is as a player, and does he fit, and all that type of stuff.”

Curry expanded on how quickly roles can change over the course of a season, mostly those of young players still finding their way in the league.

“I think the hardest part is, every year, probably, as a young guy, multiple times a year, your role can change, kind of on the fly,” Curry said.

Curry, however, made an effort to emphasize that Kuminga is still an important piece of the Warriors puzzle and that the forward needs to stay ready for when his name is called.

“We still have high hopes that he’ll impact our team this year,” Curry said. “But it’s just an idea you can’t lose your spirit when things aren’t going your way, because you’re a game or two away from it coming right back to you. And if you’ve checked out, or if you’re still not engaged in the learning process, then you might miss your moment on the back end.”

The forward's benching arrived amid the trade speculation around the former NBA champion, with ESPN reporting the Warriors are expected to explore the market before the February deadline.

Steve Kerr described the decision as roster-driven competition, saying it reflected the realities of a deep rotation rather than an issue with Kuminga’s effort.

“Happens to everyone in the league, other than the stars,” Kerr said. “Guys come in and out of the rotation, depending on who’s available, how the team is playing. This is how the league works. There’s always someone knocking down the door, trying to get your job.”

Kuminga agreed to a two-year extension last summer and won't be trade-eligible until mid-January.