Warriors: 3 Reasons to rally behind Jonathan Kuminga
By Tony Pesta
The last few seasons were far from perfect for the Golden State Warriors. Just about every disaster imaginable occurred. Yet, their struggles came with a reward: Jonathan Kuminga.
Finishing in the bottom three of the standings in 2019-20, the Warriors earned themselves the second overall pick in the draft. They selected James Wiseman, who has played just 39 games and recently underwent knee surgery.
The Warriors then missed out on the playoffs in 2020-21 as they were defeated in the Play-In Tournament. This landed them the 14th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft — while their previous trade with Minnesota earned them the Timberwolves’ pick at No. 7.
Here is where they struck gold on Kuminga. Originally listed as a top-three prospect, a shakey G-League stint caused Kuminga’s stock to drop enough for the Dubs to snatch him midway through the lottery.
Jonathan Kuminga is shining in his rookie season and there are many reasons to rally behind the youngest member of the Golden State Warriors.
Fun fact: Jonathan Kuminga and I were born on the same day, October 6. Though, I entered the world four years earlier than the 19-year-old. Let’s just say at his age, I was nowhere near as polished of a prospect.
As a ripe teenager, Kuminga has excelled in his limited minutes. He’s proving to have all of the potentials that made him an exciting pick in the draft. Here are the three reasons fans need to be rallying behind the rookie.