PORTLAND, Ore. — Within the locker room following the Warriors’ season-opening romp over the Portland Path Blazers, Jonathan Kuminga downplayed any issues that his strategy to the sport could possibly be impacted by not reaching a contract extension deal earlier than the season.
Kuminga, 22, is about to develop into a restricted free agent on the finish of the season. He and the Warriors by no means made a lot progress on an extension earlier than final Monday’s deadline, per sources. The group prizes in-season flexibility to make a commerce and Kuminga may earn a significant payday by taking one other leap in his fourth yr.
“No thoughts,” Kuminga stated when requested for his response to not putting a deal. “If it didn’t happen, it didn’t happen. I’m here, playing basketball. If it wasn’t going to happen, it wasn’t going to happen. It’s something that’s in the past already, I’m not concerned about it as much. I’m focusing on the main goal right now, which is performing and helping us win.”
Final season, Kuminga averaged 16.1 factors per sport, a big enhance over the earlier yr. He was among the many league’s finest gamers in transition and getting downhill, rating within the 88th percentile at rim scoring at his place, per Cleansing The Glass.
Between December and February final season, Kuminga scored in double figures for 34 consecutive video games.
Within the Warriors’ blowout win over the Blazers on Wednesday, Kuminga struggled. Two of his three fouls got here on expenses, and he completed with 10 factors in 20 minutes. He was the one Warriors and not using a optimistic plus-minus.
Golden State began Kuminga at small ahead, his most well-liked place, and performed 12 gamers in its essential rotation. Utilizing so many gamers requires sacrifice and buy-in up and down the roster, and gamers coming into free company aren’t incentivized to play unselfishly as stat will increase may result in greater contracts. Kuminga isn’t apprehensive about that.
Warriors basic supervisor Mike Dunleavy stated not reaching an extension doesn’t have an effect on how the group views Kuminga, and it shouldn’t change the wing’s mindset.
“I think that approach is up to him,” Dunleavy stated. “That’s his call. But I think ultimately, the most important thing is he has a great season. And that should be his only focus. That should be the focus whether he got the extension or not. And so it’s pretty simple and straightforward to me. His motivation shouldn’t change.”
