Pick #7 2021, Jonathan Kuminga, wants people to know that he never wanted to leave the Golden State Warriors. He prefers to imitate his idol, the legend of the Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, remaining with one franchise for his entire career. However, he needed the Warriors to know where he stood.
“I have not lost confidence in my presence here; that’s not what I said,” Kuminga said, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.
“It was definitely at a point where I felt like I needed to be [on the court]. I felt like I could help. I felt like there was so much left on the table and I felt like me and the young people could go out there and help. [Stephen Curry], Klay [Thompson]And Draymond [Green].”
Jonathan Kuminga addresses early season row with Steve Kerr
Alluding to his face-to-face meeting with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, in which he expressed his dissatisfaction with his role, Kuminga says the impromptu conference “was just me trying to go in there and find a way to play”.
“Find a way to be on the ground. Find a way to help every young man get his chance. And as you see, every young person has a chance… We are doing the things we were supposed to do. We’re not going to help every day…we’re not going to win every day.
But as you get that experience, you go out there and help out as much as you can.
The top it worked well for all parties.
Kerr became a less rigid leader, increasingly willing to rely on the young talents of the Warriors. Kuminga emerged as the most improved candidate, averaging 19.3 points per game. since I became a full-time starter. The Warriors climbed back over .500 after an 18-20 start.
Bringing Warriors to Life
Kuminga has been a revelation for the Warriors since becoming a full-time starter.
While winning 57.9 percent (22-16) of their games with Kuminga as the starter this season, the third-year forward did not become a full-time starter until January 27. Facing LeBron James and his battalion in what became a loss of one point, the Democratic Republic of Congo native had 22 points and nine rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers. Even including this game, the Warriors are gone 15-8 since January 27winning 65.2 percent of their matches.
This winning percentage ranks higher than all but four teams (Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves) this season.
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