Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler remains confident that Jonathan Kuminga can play a key role in the team’s series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kuminga has seen limited minutes since Butler’s arrival but made the most of his expanded role in Game 2 on Thursday. Despite the 117-93 loss, Kuminga was a bright spot, scoring a team-high 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting while adding five rebounds.
Butler believes Kuminga will be an integral part of the Warriors’ game plan moving forward, expressing optimism that they can not only coexist but thrive together on the court.
“He’s a great basketball player. I can play with anybody. He can play with anybody. It’s all about playing basketball the right way. It’s all it is,” Butler said. “Just make the right play over and over again, every single time, no matter who you are out there with. Me and JK could thrive. We can and will thrive on the basketball court together.”
Butler joined the Warriors in February, as Kuminga was still recovering from an ankle injury. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the team found its groove with Butler and Kuminga fell out of the rotation.
“Mostly, I feel for JK, because I like him. He’s been here for four years, he’s a talented guy. Sometimes things go in a different direction. I think what happened here is pretty obvious; I’ve talked about it. Jimmy Butler came in,” Kerr said in an April radio interview. “When JK was out, we traded for Jimmy and they play the same position. Our whole team changed. We became an ISO team with Jimmy. Movement with Steph [Curry] and iso with Jimmy. Jimmy is one of the best players in the league, so it’s not as simple as just saying, ‘Oh, OK we’ll just play them together.’ Basketball doesn’t work that way.”
With Steph Curry sidelined by a hamstring injury and Kuminga delivering a strong Game 2 performance, head coach Steve Kerr may be forced to reevaluate his rotation strategy moving forward.
