SAN FRANCISCO – With the season on the road, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is open to exploring all prospects for Recreation 7 in Houston on Sunday night time.
So does that imply Jonathan Kuminga is an choice towards the stingy Rockets protection within the ultimate recreation of the collection?
Maybe.
“One-hundred percent, he’s on the table,” Kerr stated, including, “Up 3-1, things are going well. Then obviously last two games have gone very poorly. We have to assess everything. Lineup combinations, starters, all of that we have to assess.”
Kuminga, a 6-foot-9 energy ahead, has been a wholesome scratch for 4 of the six video games within the collection and out of the rotation for the reason that final recreation of the common season.
On this collection towards the Rockets, Kerr has proven he isn’t averse to switching issues up.
He moved Buddy Hield into the beginning lineup in Recreation 3 instead of Moses Moody and changed Brandin Podziemski with Gary Payton II in Recreation 6.
Kuminga might present assistance on the boards (4.6 rebounds per recreation) and a much-needed credible driving menace subsequent to Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry.
The wing had a 41.4% free throw price, the second-highest frequency on the crew subsequent to Butler.
In a collection the place Golden State has struggled to generate non-Butler free-throw makes an attempt – a paltry 54 in six video games – Kuminga’s capability to get to the road and generate simple factors may very well be an antidote for the Rockets zone.
He proved in the course of the common season he’s able to placing up large numbers.
Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (00) dribbles towards Denver Nuggets’ Jalen Pickett (24) within the first quarter on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Kuminga averaged 15.3 factors per recreation in 47 appearances in the course of the season, however missed 30-plus video games with a extreme ankle harm.
As soon as he returned, Jimmy Butler had entrenched himself on the crew. The 2 didn’t play nicely collectively, with Kuminga’s isolation-heavy offense bogging down the offense by working in the identical areas Butler wished to assault from.
With Butler routinely logging excessive minutes because the season wound to a detailed and the web page turned to the postseason, Kuminga was despatched to the bench.
When Butler was injured in Recreation 2 and needed to miss Recreation 3 with a bruised pelvis, Kuminga was requested to fill in, and had uneven outcomes.
He shot 4 of 12 for 11 factors within the Recreation 2 loss and began however solely performed 17 minutes in Recreation 3, ending with seven factors.
As soon as Butler got here again, Kuminga returned to the bench, the place he has remained.
Would he be prepared for Recreation 7?
“Yeah, he cut out for it,” Draymond Inexperienced stated. “He’s cut out for whatever we throw at him. He built right, the right way, for that.”
Ought to Kuminga play in Recreation 7, it may very well be the final time he wears a Warriors uniform. The 22-year-old can be a restricted free agent this offseason.
After enjoying In Recreation 3, Kuminga stated he has all the time “stayed ready” for his alternative.
He might need an opportunity to show it on Sunday with the season on the road.
