Golden State Warriors’ run came to a quiet end as the Minnesota Timberwolves wrapped up a commanding 4-1 series. No miracles. No, Stephen Curry. And no real answer when the cracks widened. Draymond Green called it like it was: “We were a second-round team.” Even Jimmy Butler couldn’t rescue the unraveling. But in the final moments at Target Center, the spotlight shifted. Cheers didn’t chase Butler or Buddy Hield. They found Jonathan Kuminga instead. Loud. Lingering. And strangely unresolved, much like his place in Joe Lacob’s ever-changing vision.
Once nearly written off, Jonathan Kuminga rose when it mattered most. In Curry’s absence, he averaged 24.3 points and led the Warriors with fire. Just weeks after benchings and swirling exit talks, his playoff brilliance has flipped the script entirely despite the exit. At least, the Warriors boss believes so.
In his latest conversation with The Athletic’s Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson, Joe Lacob shared his experience sitting courtside amidst the ocean of Wolves fans. “I was listening to the guys behind me tonight give running commentary — T’Wolves fans,” Lacob said. “(Kuminga)’s the guy they talked about all night long. He’s the only guy that could really guard (Anthony Edwards) out there. Did a pretty damn good job. He had a tough situation with the DNPs from the last series, and to bounce back from that, I give him a lot of credit. I’m a big fan of his.”
To be honest, Lacob’s belief in Jonathan Kuminga has never wavered. He helped bring him in in 2021 and still backs him. Yet with sign and trade talks emerging, both sides are weighing fresh starts and strategic returns. The Warriors seek size, and Kuminga may seek freedom. But it is only May. Conversations are just beginning. If he stays, whispers suggest a bigger role next to Curry, Green, and Butler—and a summer of growth already in motion.
Meanwhile, JK stepped up in Game 5 with 26 points off the bench, hitting 11 of 23 from the field and sinking three triples. It capped a series where he averaged 20 points, including a 30-point explosion in Game 3. Now, the spotlight shifts again. Golden State plans to extend its $10.2 million qualifying offer. Lacob remains a fan, but as free agency nears, Kuminga’s future feels anything but simple.
At the same time, Steve Kerr‘s recent decisions regarding Kuminga’s position on the team have shed light on his need for the team. Rumors of the Dubs placing the 22-year-old on the trade table have only grown louder, and recent revelations now fuel the conversation even more.
Could the latest insights send Jonathan Kuminga out of the Bay Area?
“There are certainly things he has to improve on, but he’s 22 years old,” Joe Lacob told The Athletic. “He’s got a hell of a lot of potential, and I would think he would be a part of our future plans. Now we’ll have to see how the market all shakes out. We have a lot of evaluating to do. Not me necessarily. But everybody, from coaching staff to basketball operations. We’ll kind of sit around and talk about how we want to construct the team for next year and what the situation is with respect to him.”
Jonathan Kuminga once turned down a five-year deal worth $150 million, betting on himself. But a season of uneven minutes and mixed performances has clouded that bold call. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, yet it still failed to win Kerr’s full trust. Now, with an extension back on the table, whispers of an exit are growing louder.
Dec 23, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) looks on against the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
At 22, Jonathan flashes raw talent but often strays from the Warriors’ selfless system. In a 103- 86 win over Portland, he repeatedly ignored Stephen Curry and kept creating shots for himself, frustrating Steve Kerr. That reportedly led to two late-season benchings, including the play-in. With his rookie extension looming, doubts around his fit have intensified, leaving his future hanging by a thread.
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