Jonathan Kuminga returned to the Golden State Warriors Thursday night on the Chase Middle, recording 18 factors and three rebounds in simply 20 minutes whereas the hosts crammed a dominant victory of 130-104 towards the Sacramento Kings.
Earlier than his return, there was a whole lot of hypothesis about how Kuminga would reintegrate a booming Warriors workforce which had received 12 of his 14 earlier video games with out the outdated seventh selection in whole.
Oppying groups can really resolve Jonathan Kuminga’s drawback with the Warriors
Thursday’s return could have been extra clear than even the largest optimists might have anticipated it. Kuminga regarded inflatable and at his finest athletic, whereas completely enjoying his position whereas having fun with the defensive consideration launched in the direction of Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.
It was in truth the defendant of Sacramento who resolved any drawback that Golden State could have had with the return of Kuminga. The most important concern was how he was behind two stars in Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, slightly than having been the second prime scorer earlier than his damage the place he has a mean of greater than 24 factors and eight rebounds in a interval of six video games.
However slightly than restricted offensive alternatives, the conscience of the kings of Butler and specifically Curry meant that Kuminga and the remainder of his teammamtes couldn’t assist getting concerned.
The 18 factors of the 22 -year -old participant in 20 minutes occurred on an efficient taking pictures of seven out of 10 from the bottom, with all his discipline targets from the inside of the paint which included a sequence of catchy dunks within the final interval.
Jonathan Kuminga in his return:
18 factors out of seven/10 in 20 minutes pic.twitter.com/coa7qgv2uu
– Brett Usher (@ushernba) March 14, 2025
ESPN Tim Legler analyst was scathing from the protection of kings On his Podcast All NBA, questioning Doug Christie’s determination to deal with Curry, which allowed Kuminga and others to dominate all through the sport.
“I simply thought it was a bit weak, to be sincere with you, from Sacramento. I do not like, I do not like to look at NBA video games like that. What are you doing? You deny a man with a full face the guarding. I do not know the place the ball is. I imply, come on, man. Play an actual NBA stage protection, ” Exclaimed Legler.
Kuminga’s expertise and athletics make him a wonderful liberation valve when the groups defend Curry and Butler as Sacramento. The actual query mark falls on the effectiveness of Kuminga comes when the defenses select to play Curry and Butler extra straight, which is after all a significant threat in itself for them given the greatness of those two gamers.
Probably the most optimistic is that the Warriors now have choices, and that the opposing groups will now must stay and select with dangerous defensive methods in a approach that they merely couldn’t earlier than the butler’s commerce.
