When the Golden State Warriors opted to move on from Jordan Poole in June of last year, there was no doubt that the young guard’s relationship with Draymond Green was a big factor.
But at the same time, the Green-Poole dynamic wasn’t the only problem between the veteran forward and a young teammate. In a July 21 reportNBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole revealed that Green had no relationship with Jonathan Kuminga, stating that it was a “problem and it can only be solved by Draymond.”
Now in a recent report According to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, Green recounted how Golden State owner Joe Lacob made a point of asking him to take Kuminga under his wing. The four-time All-Star gave him his word, recognizing it as a condition of the new four-year, $100 million contract he signed during the offseason.
Andrews’ report highlights a significant change between Green and Kuminga, both personally and professionally. From an on-court perspective, Green took advantage of his lengthy suspension to study Warrior games and provide Kuminga with clips and feedback on his performances.
Off the field, Green took time to understand Kuminga, his past, discuss his family, etc. It also helped the latter form closer ties with other members of the organization, as Andrews alluded to.
“All of this allowed Kuminga to finally establish those stronger bonds that he initially lacked when he joined the Warriors, especially with his veteran teammate in the frontcourt.”
– Kendra Andrews
It’s not hyperbolic to suggest that the stronger bond between the two men saved, or at least revitalized, Golden State’s future. After Poole was traded to the Washington Wizards, Kuminga remained the team’s only young player with true All-Star potential.
The Warriors were also at risk of losing him, with widespread speculation about Kuminga’s future during the offseason, and at times earlier this season, when his role remained uncertain. Yet the 21-year-old has now reinvented who Golden State is today and what it could be in the future.
Veteran Sniper Klay Thompson called Kuminga the future of the franchise, and while some may wonder if he can be one of the top two players on a playoff team, the trajectory suggests it’s certainly possible.
Green’s influence on this should not be underestimated, having helped unlock Kuminga’s potential in a new frontcourt with Andrew Wiggins. Without Green, who knows if Kuminga would even be on the franchise as we speak.
