Jonathan Kuminga continues to flash potential
The second round series against Memphis gave the Golden State Warriors a perfect excuse to give the teenage Jonathan Kuminga his first extended look at NBA minutes. He was used sparsely in round one, but a fast-paced battle against another young team granted Kuminga a chance to truly get his feet wet.
Kuminga played 15.3 minutes per game in round two versus just 6.3 minutes against Denver. In this additional time, the rookie averaged 10.0 points and 3.8 rebounds on 55.6% shooting.
It’s no surprise that Kuminga was on the bench for many key moments of round two — and has remained a rare sighting as the stakes increase in the Western Conference Finals.
Yet, in the small sample size we’ve seen of Kuminga, there is more than enough reason to grow giddy.
He continues to be a brute force of nature, thrusting himself into the paint and applying immense pressure to the rim. Similarly, he’s a sturdy defender who can wreak havoc as a helper when he is in the right position.
As with all rookies, inexperience has limited Kuminga’s impact. But the signs of a future star are there.