Jonathan Kuminga was a major part of the Golden State Warriors recent win over the LA Clippers. The third-year forward played 23 minutes off the bench and ended the game without a single foul to his name, which impressed Steve Kerr. Kuminga had solid defensive possessions against elite talent such as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
However, Kuminga’s decision to turn down a corner three in favor of running a dribble hand-off with Klay Thompson really cemented his performance. Kuminga’s decision got the veteran shooter in rhythm, something which Draymond Green credited him for after the game.
However, Green wasn’t the only veteran to praise Kuminga’s performance. Steph Curry also had some words about his young teammate, noting how he’s a “dawg” on the defensive end.
“He’s just a dog on defense,” Curry said. “When he’s communicating physically on the ball, using his athleticism, he can be a real disruption out there…That’s the type of game he can thrive him when he’s taking on an individual matchup while staying in the structure of the team’s offense…He played 24 minutes and that statline is beautiful. Making an impact.”
Kuminga ended the game with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1steal, and 1 block, shooting 75% from the field and 60% from 3-point range. Kerr will have some tough choices to make with his rotation if he continues to play at such a high level.
The Warriors need their bench players to make a consistent impact throughout the season. Kuminga has been a reliable contributor over the first few months of the season and will likely continue to perform. Having a young, athletic forward who is eager to impress coming off the bench is exactly what Golden State needs to remain competitive.
