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Steph Curry Sends Clear Jonathan Kuminga Message After Lakers Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Apr 4, 2025 1:48 PM ET

The Golden State Warriors extended their hot streak with a 123-116 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, continuing their surge since acquiring Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline. The victory came despite strong showings from LeBron James and Austin Reaves, who both dropped 30-point performances for LA.

Steph Curry was once again the driving force for Golden State, following up his 52-point explosion against the Memphis Grizzlies with a game-high 37 points against the Lakers. Curry caught fire in the second half, scoring 25 points to keep the Lakers at bay and secure another key win.

Brandin Podziemski also made his presence felt, tallying 28 points—22 of which came in the first half—while Jonathan Kuminga added 18 points to help the Warriors improve their position in the tightly packed Western Conference.

Kuminga’s season has been marred by injuries, limiting him to just 42 games so far. The 22-year-old forward has shown flashes of his potential, averaging 16.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 25 minutes per game, but hasn't quite met the lofty expectations many had for his fourth year in the league.

That scrutiny hasn't gone unnoticed, and Steph Curry took a moment after the win to publicly back his teammate.

“I think we need to just let this guy play basketball,” Curry told reporters. “We don’t have to have a declaration after every game. We don’t have to be in a situation where we are judging every minute he’s out there.”

Steph Curry on Jonathan Kuminga: “I think we need to just let this guy play basketball. We don’t have to have a declaration after every game. We don’t have to be in a situation where we are judging every minute he’s out there.”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 4, 2025

Kuminga recently returned from a lengthy ankle injury that sidelined him for 31 straight games. He rejoined the lineup on March 13 against the Sacramento Kings, only to suffer another ankle knock shortly after in the Warriors win over the San Antonio Spurs. He missed just one game before suiting up again versus the Lakers. In his 10 games since returning, Kuminga is averaging 13.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, showing steady progress despite the setbacks.

As the postseason nears, the Warriors will be hoping Kuminga stays healthy and continues to contribute, as they aim to make another deep playoff run behind the leadership of Curry and their reshaped core.

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

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