Following their playoff elimination at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Golden State Warriors have shifted their focus to retooling the roster for the 2025–26 season. Jonathan Kuminga, who saw inconsistent minutes throughout the year, became a central figure in offseason speculation. His reduced role sparked questions about a potential rift with head coach Steve Kerr.
Kuminga didn’t shy away from addressing those rumors during a recent press conference. Speaking openly about his relationship with Kerr, he said: “Like I told them it’s gonna take us time to figure things out…. We’ve had ups and downs but you know he helped me to get here. We had a lot of great moments.” Despite the fluctuation in playing time, Kuminga flashed his upside during the postseason.
Still, it does not guarantee he will remain in Golden State. After the Game 5 loss to Minnesota, reporters asked about his future with the team. Kuminga kept it short, and uncertain: “I don’t know.” That candid response added fuel to the speculation surrounding his possible departure, even after the critical role he filled while Stephen Curry battled injury.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr opens up in Jonathan Kuminga’s next season role
After Jonathan Kuminga’s impressive postseason performance, many fans have voiced their desire for the young forward to remain a key part of the Warriors’ future. In response to the growing momentum behind Kuminga, head coach Steve Kerr addressed his potential role in the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season during a press conference.
“If JK comes back, we will for sure spend the early part of the season playing him with Jimmy, Draymond, Steph. To me, that would be a no-brainer…When (Kuminga) did come back, it was a tough fit. But we also didn’t have the luxury of experimenting...If JK comes back next year, we have to look at that, for sure,” stated Steve Kerr.
The young talent took center stage during the conference semifinals against the Timberwolves, showcasing his potential in a big way. His standout performance appears to have convinced head coach Steve Kerr, who now seems more willing to give him an expanded role. Over the five-game series, he averaged 20.8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, his best showing in this stage of the Conference Semifinals playoffs so far in his career.