Golden State Warriors: 3-point shooting will be key for Kuminga

The Golden State Warriors have made it clear they will be banking on their young talent to play a key role in leading the next charge for a championship. In doing so, Jonathan Kuminga will need to place emphasis on being a consistent 3-point shooter.

Jonathan Kuminga’s success with the Golden State Warriors will come down to his ability to develop as a 3-point shooter.

Kuminga is one of the latest lottery picks the Dubs have added via the NBA Draft. A tall, versatile forward who can provide additional playmaking and slashing is something the Warriors are happy to have on the roster.

However, Kuminga is one of the biggest “works in progress” the 2021 NBA Draft had to offer. He’s incredibly raw as a prospect with more than his fair share of development to do. There’s no doubt Kuminga will have some growing pains in his rookie season but the most important thing will be laying down a foundation for a reliable jump shot.

There isn’t much question as to how capable Kuminga will be as an athlete. He’s a 6’8″ tank with a freakish 7-foot wingspan. With his agility and brute strength, Kuminga has an easy path to becoming an elite defender.

As for offense, he’s shown promise as an interior scorer. Kuminga averaged 15.8 points in the G-League with most of his damage being done in the paint or as a mid-range threat. This is where expanding his shooting will be a major key.

Kuminga already has a fluid touch in the mid-range. If he is able to step out behind the 3-point line and connect on at even a league-average rate then he’d fit in perfectly with the Warriors. His ability to shoot will be the difference between potentially finishing games next to Draymond Green or being a reserve player on the bench.

As stated, I wouldn’t expect Kuminga to have it all figured out by his rookie season. That’s not much of a criticism for such a young prospect — but Kuminga will have more to prove than the rest of his peers. Especially due to the situation he is entering the NBA under.

Again, Kuminga will likely find it easy to fill in as a slasher and defender for the Dubs. Where he will truly sink or swim is when standing outside of the 3-point line.