Golden State Warriors: Where does Jonathan Kuminga fit?

Jonathan Kuminga has been cleared by the Golden State Warriors for practice and his NBA debut could come soon. But, where does the rookie fit with this competitive team?

It is unusual for a lottery pick to play notable minutes on a squad with championship aspirations. What’s more, Kuminga is one of the least polished players in his class — making his role with the Dubs even murkier early on.

Jonathan Kuminga does not have a defined role with the Golden State Warriors yet, what does this mean for the incoming rookie?

The Warriors have rebuilt their Strength in Numbers reputation by sporting a deep rotation that is full of capable players. From 3-point shooters to scrappy defenders and great decision-makers, the veteran presence on this team is night and day compared to last season.

This makes life for a rookie… well, rough. There is not much room for error when the guys ahead of you in the depth chart have significantly more experience than you. Still, there is an opportunity for Kuminga to find his niche this season.

Kuminga’s role with the Dubs

At first glance, using Kuminga as a backup to Andrew Wiggins feels natural. Kuminga shares the same fluid athleticism and length as Wiggins, making him the ideal replacement for Wiggins’ versatility on defense.

However, Kuminga is far from the shooter Wiggins has become. The former No. 1 overall pick has been clipping close to 40 percent of his 3-point attempts since joining the Warriors. In contrast, the deep ball has been a weakness for Kuminga since high school.

The most realistic fit for Kuminga is in an Andre Iguodala-type role. However, as similar as the two are physically, Kuminga does not scratch the surface of Iggy’s supreme veteran knowledge and experience. This will be a key difference-maker in how effective each player is at defending and creating plays for others.

Iggy has an innate understanding of NBA defense and the Warriors’ offense is like second nature to him at this point. The same will not be said of Kuminga for at least a few years, if ever, as Iggy’s IQ is truly special.

Kuminga will be limited as a rookie

The path to playing big minutes will not be as simple for Kuminga as it is for Moses Moody, who can rely on his perimeter defense chops and 3-point shooting to carve out an early role for himself.

Because of all of this, Kuminga might find himself playing a psuedo Draymond Green role with the Warriors. Using Kuminga as an all-around disruptor on defense and granting him the responsibility to handle the ball in transition seems to be the best way to maximize his talents. Much like Green, Kuminga would not be expected to shoot outside of his comfort zones.

The learning curve will be steep for Kuminga. He is not a strong enough ball-handler to carry too much of the load and rookies typically struggle on defense. With a Warriors team that is looking to win as many games as possible, we could see a limited year of Kuminga as they emphasize his development behind the scenes.