Jonathan Kuminga wasn’t even in the Golden State Warriors’ rotation at times at the end of last season.
But in the 2025-26 season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kuminga was everything the Warriors needed.
Head coach Steve Kerr opted to start Kuminga, a bold call to start small and bring Al Horford off the bench.
It also put Kuminga on the floor with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, the very lineup Kerr wanted to avoid down the stretch of last season.
Now, though, it looked like they belonged together.
The Warriors beat the Lakers in large part because of how good Kuminga was.
Jonathan Kuminga stats vs. Lakers
The final stats for Kuminga against the Lakers were fantastic:
- 32 minutes
- 17 points. 9 rebounds
- 6 assists
- 6-11 FG
- 4-6 3FG
- 1 steal
- 1-2 FT
Kuminga grabbed a clutch offensive rebound late to help ice the game.
This is exactly the talent Kuminga has displayed in flashes in the past, usually when other players were out.
If Kuminga can play this well with all the Warriors’ veteran stars active alongside him, it can greatly raise Golden State’s ceiling. It’s certainly a big development for what the Warriors hope to accomplish this year.
