SAN FRANCISCO — Had Steve Kerr called a timeout, it would have negated any potential advantage the Warriors might have gained in transition. For years they have exploited the cracks in the chaos. Advantage Sacramento. If Steph Curry had called a timeout, as he should have done in hindsight, the visiting Kings, who led by one point on Thursday, would have had a chance to build their defense – make optimal substitutions and develop a plan to deal with it to get a defensive stop they needed in the final seconds. Advantage Sacramento.
But if the Warriors had called a timeout and just needed a basket, they could have made one of their moves and intentionally moved into the lane, where they did their best all game against the Kings. Where Jonathan Kuminga did most of his damage to get his 31 points. Advantage Golden State.
The disorganization on the final possession ultimately cost the Warriors dearly. But the benefits only become apparent in retrospect. Because unlike ever before, simply leaving was a viable option for Kuminga when weighing the possibilities of what the Warriors should have done.
“That’s my little brother, man,” Andrew Wiggins said. “I tell him all the time, 'Nobody can stop you, brother.' You are too strong. Too fast. Too good at basketball.' And every day he gets better and better. His shot is getting better. His grip. Pass. He gets to the rim at will. That’s why I tell him he’s that guy and to move on.”
The season, which became a live Dubs Nation qualifier, inflicted another painful defeat on their rival on Interstate 80, 134-133. The latest thrilling edition of a wildly entertaining rivalry ended with another thud for the Warriors, as Curry went into his pocket for the game-winning dribble, then his grip broke.
But in a time of unrest, the growth of Kuminga can bring relief. The biggest and most significant reveal is the No. 7 pick in 2021, chosen for the future glory that is now on the horizon. They couldn't protect the same player who looked unplayable in the postseason series against the same Kings on Thursday night nine months ago.
Kuminga is averaging 25.6 points on 65.4 percent shooting in his last five games. During that span, he shot 67.2 percent in the zone, including 24 of 30 from the restricted area.
Because it's a small sample size, the conservative reaction right now is that he's a much-needed option in the Warriors' offense. What is unmistakable, however, is the influence that opportunity and confidence have on his game. The non-conservative reaction? He looks like the future. He looks like someone who is putting his hand up to fill the void in the Warriors' star lineup.
In his third season, Jonathan Kuminga's playing time and points total have steadily improved. Lately, he's given the impression that he's essential to the Warriors' future. (Ross Cameron/USA Today)
That's why the Warriors can't trade him. Multiple team sources said the Warriors have no plans to do so and have never done so. Certainly his stock is rising with the NBA trade deadline two weeks away. But Kuminga cannot be considered a sweetener. It is not an addition. It is a fundamental piece. Nothing in this trading market suggests that there is a reasonable return out there. If Kuminga is included in a deal, it had better be a straightforward deal that catapults the Warriors to the top.
Otherwise, they owe it to themselves, to him, to see where this leads.
That's what all the effort, all the stops and starts were for. All the wisdom poured in, hard boundaries drawn and frustrating lessons learned. The fruit is a Kuminga, which could possibly be the future pillar they envisioned.
“This is what we expected,” Kevon Looney said. “We all saw the lightning. We all know what he can do. It's cool to see him make it despite all the adversity we face.
“We all knew he could score,” Looney continued. “But it’s the little things he had to do better. Rebounding. Boxing out. Be a great defender. Play fast lanes. If you take care of it, what you do naturally will always come easy to you. I’m just proud that he does all the little things.”
Now it's time to get even more involved with Kuminga. Increase his minutes. Expand his role.
Harrison Barnes, who paced the Warriors with a career-high 39 points, played 40 minutes. Keegan Murray, Sacramento's rising star, played 38 minutes. De'Aaron Fox, the Kings' best player, played 36. Kuminga, in his third season, is younger than everyone else, including 10 years younger than Barnes. Kuminga has fewer career minutes than Murray halfway through his second season. There is no reason why Kuminga should only play 30 minutes, especially if he plays well. Lean into it.
Kuminga's style of play and his performance lately are the perfect complement to Curry. They desperately needed someone who could create offense while the defense paid special attention to Curry. They're thirsty for someone who can put pressure on the rim and take advantage of 1-on-1 matchups. Kuminga is the change the Warriors needed to spice up their offense.
The return of Draymond Green has made the Kuminga and Wiggins pairing even more potent as a lineup. In a league full of athletic wingers, the Warriors need them on the court together. It was a disaster for most of the season. But lately it's been working.
In the last two games, Kuminga and Wiggins are plus-22 in 28 minutes combined. Since Green returned, the quartet of Kuminga, Wiggins, Green and Curry are a combined plus-30 in 32 minutes.
“What I see with JK and Wiggs together gives me courage,” Kerr said. “They struggled together at the start of the season, but we're trying to tweak some things with Draymond, Steph and then either (Brandin Podziemski), Klay (Thompson) or Dario (Šarić) so we have more shooters and playmakers.”
GO DEEPER
“This is one that keeps you awake at night”: The warriors cope with another blow from the kings
The Warriors turned to Kuminga late Friday and he delivered. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter – all from the paint, including two 3-point plays. He and Curry combined to score the Warriors' final 19 points.
The Warriors went to Kuminga in the final 20 seconds with the game on the line and gave him the ball at the post. He made a good move and got a good look at Barnes. But on the way up he lost the ball – he thinks he was fouled – and it didn't work.
But overall that's okay. He's reached a new level and now has to learn how to produce in crunch time. The Warriors, who have already invested so much in shaping Kuminga's paradigm, should focus on the next phase. Develop his favorite moves. Start mastering some moves with him and Curry, him and Green.
Everyone understands what is happening here. Maybe it could have happened sooner. But the most important thing is that it happens.
“Sometimes that's a good thing, you know?” Wiggins, who was the No. 1 pick and averaged 36 minutes as a rookie, said Kuminga had to bide his time. “He got a ring and is learning from the Hall of Famers. He plays with one of the best players to ever touch a basketball. So now it's his time. He knows how to play successful basketball. He knows what's important.
“It just took patience,” Wiggins continued. “But honestly, this is such a good organization, bro. This is first class, first class. You want to be here. Being one of the guys on this team is something different. This is a luxurious organization. So it's not like anywhere else. On the other hand, the grass is not always greener. If you have a chance to build something special here, do it. I feel like he knows that for sure now.”
At four games under .500, two games out of the play-in tournament, the Warriors could use a move to plug the holes they continue to sink. There may not be much out there left, and a few more losses could turn them into sellers and salary losers.
But this bounce from Kuminga means they won't be leaving the trade deadline empty-handed. Whether they're making a run this season or just preparing for a rebuilt future, Kuminga is an important figure. This is what they had planned and now it's here.
“It's a great feeling to say, 'I told you it was going to happen,'” Looney said with a smile. “They always have their doubts. Everyone wants it immediately. But if you keep working and playing basketball properly, you will be rewarded.”
But Looney holds back his “I told you so.”
“Let him enjoy it a little,” Looney said. “He always gives credit, so let him take the credit now. It’s his hard work paying off.”
GO DEEPER
The Warriors get the perfect night from Jonathan Kuminga and claim an emotional season restart victory
(Top photo by Jonathan Kuminga: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)