Jonathan Kuminga shone in his opening night outing with the Golden State Warriors, proving why he deserves to be a starter.
Coming into the NBA season, there was a lot of talk about Jonathan Kuminga and what he could bring to the Golden State Warriors next season.
Once he re-signed, Steve Kerr hinted at tension Jonathan Kuminga potentially carrying over from the previous season into this one.
For his part, Kuminga has kept things peaceful with Kerr, buying into the role the coach wants him to play on the team.
Stephen Jackson claimed Kuminga completes the Warriors’ best starting lineup. And on opening night, the forward proved that statement right, and also proved himself right for backing himself.
NBA fans applaud Jonathan Kuminga for stepping up in Warriors’ win
In the Warriors’ opening night fixture against the LA Lakers, Jonathan Kuminga had a strong performance, putting up 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, including a perfect 13-point third quarter.
Many fans were impressed with what Kuminga did, feeling he may have been right in backing himself this summer.
One energized Warriors fan wrote, “Maybe Jonathan Kuminga wasn’t crazy when he held the Warriors hostage this summer.”
Another impressed fan wrote, “He is doing the complementary things he has pretty much never done tonight.”
This is the energy one fan wants to see from the young star, who said, “I love the mindset Kuminga started this season off. I’ve critiqued him a ton in the past, but in that way, he’ll be playing 30+ mins and closing games.”
Another fan echoed these sentiments, stating, “This has been one of Kuminga’s best games in a Warriors uniform in the sense that he doesn’t seem rushed and his decision-making has been on point.”
One fan simply issued a warning, claiming, “Warriors look a lot scarier if Jonathan Kuminga can consistently have a positive impact. He’s done that tonight.”
Jonathan Kuminga could cement himself as Warriors starter
Tonight was a prime example of what Jonathan Kuminga can bring to the Warriors and just how important that can be for the team.
It’s surprising how well he played, especially considering that he wasn’t set to start the game. But an injury to Moses Moody forced Steve Kerr’s hand.
If Kuminga can continue to perform at this level and provide a similar contribution to the Warriors on a nightly basis, he will quickly make himself an undroppable starter.
Of course, this is just Game 1 of 82, and there is still a lot of basketball to go. But Steve Kerr must be impressed with Jonathan Kuminga.
