The Golden State Warriors exited the playoffs with a bitter taste, unable to showcase their full potential. The main setback? Stephen Curry’s injury during the Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. While there were flashes of promise—particularly from Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga—it wasn’t enough. And now, head coach Steve Kerr has made it clear: Kuminga’s role on this team remains uncertain.
Amid swirling speculation about Kuminga’s future, Kerr addressed the situation in an interview with Tim Kawakami on The TK Show. “I’ve been asked to win,” Kerr said. “And right now, he’s not a guy who I can say, I’m going to play 38 minutes—with the roster we have, Steph, Jimmy, and Draymond—and put the puzzle together that way and expect to win.”
Kerr continued, “It doesn’t mean he’s not a really good player or not talented. It just means the fit—with the roster that we have—is tricky. The game is about the puzzle fitting and five guys complementing one another on both ends of the floor.”
And Kerr may have a point. Kuminga has shown flashes of brilliance but has been inconsistent throughout the season. Still, when the Warriors needed someone to step up in the absence of Curry, it was Kuminga who answered the call. So the question remains: does he deserve a second chance, or is his departure from Golden State inevitable?
When Curry went down, Kuminga stepped into a larger role in the second-round series against Minnesota. He averaged 15.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 48.4% from the field—flashing offensive versatility and aggressiveness. However, his defensive lapses, limited rebounding, and questionable shot selection hurt the Warriors in critical moments.
Adding to the narrative, Golden State went 0–7 in NBA playoff games where Kuminga played more than 20 minutes. It’s a stat that surely weighs on Kerr’s mind—but it can be misleading. Kuminga’s individual numbers were respectable, and the lack of support from other role players can’t be ignored. He can’t win games alone.
The Warriors may ultimately decide to use Kuminga as a trade piece to reshape their roster around Curry and the team’s aging core. His athleticism and upside make him a valuable asset, but Golden State is under pressure to maximize its current window of contention.
With Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green still hungry for another championship, the Warriors are likely entering a pivotal offseason—one where tough decisions must be made. And Kuminga’s future may be the first domino to fall.