NBA

Steve Kerr hopes that Jonathan Kuminga’s trade demand will not disturb the Warriors

ballervisions 2026年1月16日

Steve Kerr hopes that Jonathan Kuminga’s trade demand will not affect the Warriors appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area.

SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is eligible for a trade on Thursday, and to be clear, he wants a new NBA team to call home.

The fifth-year pro has sought a trade, league sources confirmed Thursday to NBC Sports Bay Area. Kuminga attended a rare home shootaround at the Chase Center before the Warriors played the New York Knicks. When the journalists were allowed to enter, Kuminga smiled and ran out of the court without commenting.

About six hours later, Warriors coach Steve Kerr, during a pregame press conference, was asked about the latest chapter of the Kuminga era that could end in the next three weeks on Feb. 5 trade deadline.

Kerr first emphasized his statement that he and Kuminga are on good terms.

“Our relationship is good,” he said.

Besides, Kerr didn’t go too deep in explaining Kuminga’s hope for a new beginning.

“I don’t have much to say about other things,” Kerr continued. “It is what it is. It’s a tough situation for everybody. Part of this league, part of this job. We keep moving forward. But it’s a tough situation and there’s not much I can add.”

Since becoming a healthy DNP-CD (Indlanga, Coach’s Decision) in the Dec. 7 blowout win over the Chicago Bulls, Kuminga has played in just one of the Warriors’ last 17 games. He played nine-and-a-half minutes in a one-point loss to the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 18. Kuminga hasn’t taken off his black warmup shirt and has come off the bench to play at all in 13 games since then.

In 12 of the Warriors’ 13 games during that span, Kuminga continued to be a healthy DNP-CP. Kerr said on 95.7 The Game this morning during the Warriors’ 37-point loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 2 that Kuminga was in his plans to play. But Kuminga was added late to the Warriors’ injury report with lower back pain and did not dress in Golden State’s game along with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.

Although outside noise continues to get louder, Kerr says none of this is a hindrance to who the Warriors are and won’t cause problems.

“It won’t be a distraction,” Kerr said. “Jonathan is a very nice guy. His teammates like him. He behaves well. There will be no disturbance.”

Kuminga signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract with a team option for a second season two days into training camp. The start of the season was seamless as Kuminga scored 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, had nine rebounds and six assists in an opening night win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Kuminga started the first 12 games of the season, averaging 14.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.l assists per game.

The Warriors went 6-6 in those first 12 games. They went 16-13 after removing Kuminga from the starting lineup two months ago. Kuminga has played in just six of those games, starting once, and is averaging 16.5 minutes, 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

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