SAN FRANCISCO — Earlier than the Warriors took on the short-handed Hornets at residence on Tuesday night time, Steve Kerr met with Jonathan Kuminga to look at some movie.
The 2 reviewed his clips from earlier this yr, but in addition added a brand new wrinkle: Jimmy Butler performs.
Kuminga has been sidelined by a extreme, Grade 3 ankle sprain since Jan. 4. He’s been scrimmaging, which is without doubt one of the last steps towards getting cleared. When he returns, he’ll be a part of the paragon of the Warriors’ newfound swagger in Butler. He could possibly be considerably of a mannequin for the 22-year-old to take one other leap.
“I think Jimmy’s the perfect guy for JK to emulate,” Kerr mentioned. “What makes Jimmy special is that he doesn’t try to be special. He plays fundamental basketball. The constant fundamental play, he never turns it over, just makes the simple play over and over again. I want JK to learn some of that. He’s so explosive. I think it’s always hardest for the guys who are the most talented to make decisions because they’ve got too many options at their disposal. So I’m hoping that he can learn from Jimmy.”
Kerr mentioned he is aware of Butler will spend time with Kuminga and assist train him tips of the commerce. Butler is among the many league’s finest at drawing fouls, which can also be a energy of Kuminga’s — however one which could possibly be honed much more.
Butler has been enjoying off two ft since faculty, a trait the Warriors love. It helps him restrict turnovers and execute good choices below strain, making him their “designated driver.” Kuminga’s extra of a one-footed jumper within the lane, with elite athleticism to rise above defenders and end on the rim.
“Understanding that attacking the rim, nothing there, jump stop, pass the ball — that’s a great basketball play,” Kerr mentioned. “Especially for us, because Steph Curry’s on the other end of the play a lot.”
Kuminga was enjoying the perfect ball of his profession earlier than his harm. He racked up double-digit factors in 17 straight video games — together with three 30-point video games — whereas making a constant affect defensively and on the boards.
The workforce plans to deliver Kuminga off the bench each time returns, similar to they had been doing earlier than his harm. The Warriors have maneuvered their rotation to play Curry with 4 bench gamers at occasions, so it’s simple to think about Kuminga slotting into these lineup configurations as one other shot-creator.
The coaching workers will decide precisely when Kuminga will return, however the upcoming five-game, four-city street journey seems to be a definite risk. Each time he will get again on the court docket, he’ll have missed about two months, which is by far the longest absence of his profession.
“The main thing I want for JK is to not press when he comes back,” Kerr mentioned. “It’s not an easy spot to come back into. The team’s rolling. Contract stuff this summer, he’s going to have a lot on his mind. I want to make things as smooth and easy as possible. I want him to understand it’s not going to happen right away. He was playing the best basketball of his career before the injury, and it’s not going to happen the first night that he gets back to that level. It’ll take a little time.”
Hornets accidents
LaMelo Ball is amongst a slew of Charlotte Hornets unavailable for Tuesday night time’s sport. The Warriors received three straight getting into the competition, marking their first profitable streak since their 12-3 begin in November.
Brandon Miller, Grant Williams, Tidjane Salaun, Tre Mann and Josh Okogie additionally didn’t go well with up.
Taran Armstrong replace
The Warriors signed Taran Armstrong to a two-way deal, although the transaction isn’t official but so Kerr couldn’t remark.
Armstrong was listed on the official harm report as not with the workforce.
A 6-foot-6, 23-year-old level guard, Armstrong has averaged 17.1 factors, 4.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per sport within the high league in Australia.
2015 nostalgia occasion
The Warriors are celebrating their first championship workforce of the dynastic period by honoring Festus Ezeli, Brandon Rush and Marresse Speights at halftime. Every participant took the rostrum to deal with the media earlier than the sport as nicely in entrance of an image of them celebrating collectively in Cleveland.
They couldn’t consider how time has flown by and mentioned they cherished the distinctive tradition — on and off the court docket — that flourished 10 years in the past. Speights is the director of participant improvement at his alma mater of South Florida and Rush is teaching youth basketball.
“Being here is special,” Speights mentioned. “Seeing that picture right there just brings back those feelings of winning and the parade and all that kind of stuff. It’s definitely a blessing. It changed all our lives.”
Initially Printed: February 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM PST
