Kuminga’s ‘gift’ comes alive off Warriors’ bench vs. Pelicans originally aired on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Although the numbers suggest otherwise, Jonathan Kuminga didn’t see much of a difference between Tuesday’s breakout game against the New Orleans Pelicans and the Warriors’ previous three games.
The only difference from Kuminga’s perspective was that the same shots he had been hitting started falling. The Golden State big man paired with Lindy Waters III on a dominant night off the Warriors’ bench.
Kuminga had a season-high 17 points with three assists, two steals and a blocked shot in the Warriors’ 124-106 win at Chase Center.
“I feel like we got a flow because we scored more points,” Kuminga said. “I did the same thing I did in Game 2 and Game 3…still attacking the rim and keeping pressure on (my opponent). Things got better today. I’m doing something else. It looks like it, but it shouldn’t be. My talent and nature is to attack the rim as much as possible.”
Kuminga’s game has always revolved around aggressiveness that gets to the rim with ferocity, making him one of the best players in the NBA when it comes to attacking down the lane.
But until Tuesday, there had been few such moments this season. Through Golden State’s first three games, Kuminga took 24 total shots while deferring to other starters.
After receiving a pregame text from the Warriors informing him that he would be off the bench against the Pelicans, Kuminga didn’t make a fuss and channeled any frustration he might have into what was arguably the young player’s best game. NBA for the 2024-25 season.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr didn’t seem too surprised. He said the decision to move Kuminga to the bench was to free up space.
“We wanted a little more space and we knew it was going to be a JK game,” Kerr said. “I knew he would play a lot because he played well against (the Pelicans). The matchup is good for him.”
Kuminga almost laughed when he heard Kaa’s last words.
“I tend to play well against everyone,” he said.
That wasn’t the case in the Warriors’ first three games, with Kuminga scoring 10 points, two rebounds, and 12 points against the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, and Los Angeles Clippers, respectively.
Coming off the bench ended up being a blessing of sorts. He played 28 minutes, six minutes more than in the first three games, and was key to Golden State’s bench building a 54-30 points lead over the Pelicans.
“I thought JK was great,” Kerr said. “We’re obviously going to need him. He’s our most athletic player. He’s got great size and we’re going to need him like we did tonight. There are going to be some games where he has to go, and maybe things don’t go his way, but that’s okay. It’s just that the first three games didn’t go his way, and now he has 78 games to go.
“I am very confident that JK will have a huge impact on us.”
Kuminga didn’t seem too concerned, if at all, about having to come off the bench. He tried to maintain the same attitude and approach in every match.
“There are ups and downs and not every game is going to be your game,” he said. “Today was exactly the same, but it was one of those nights for me. I can’t say it was my best night.”
Probably not, but the Warriors would steal nights like this from Kuminga every game if they could.
Download and follow the Dubs Talk podcast
