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Warriors Coach Announces Jonathan Kuminga Plan After Benching

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Dec 18, 2025 1:42 AM ET

Jonathan Kuminga has not made an appearance for the Golden State Warriors in their last three games. The 6-foot-7 forward is no longer dealing with an injury, and his recent benching has been brought about by head coach Steve Kerr’s changes in the rotation.

Kuminga’s benching cast a shadow over his future with the Warriors, especially with trade rumors surrounding the 23-year-old. On Wednesday, head coach Steve Kerr spoke to reporters to share an update on Kuminga’s status. As it turns out, Kerr appears to have seen enough from the former NBA G League star for Kerr to make a decision regarding Kuminga’s playing time.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) looks on against the Indiana Pacers.Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Kuminga had a particularly interesting offseason. There was some back and forth between him and the Warriors front office, which eventually led to the Democratic Republic of Congo national to sign a two-year, $48.5 million extension with the team. It is worth noting, however, that the Warriors hold a team option on the second year of his new deal, which plays out in 2025-26.

The good news for Kuminga is that he is now set to return to the rotation. Kerr announced on Wednesday that he intends to “reward” Kuminga for the way he reacted to his recent benching.

“You definitely want to see how guys respond in practice,” Kerr said, via Monte Poole of NBC Sports. “And I can tell you, JK, has been great this last week as he's been out of the rotation. He's working really hard, and I'm going to reward that.”

Kerr indicated that he intends to give the former No. 7 overall pick some minutes on Thursday when they face the Phoenix Suns. It is unclear whether Kuminga will start or come off the bench, and how many minutes Kerr intends to give the embattled forward.

Kuminga has made 17 appearances for the Warriors this season, with 13 of them as a starter. He has averaged 12.4 points on 43.8% shooting, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 25.6 minutes per contest.

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

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