5 Training camp issues that could derail Warriors from the start

3. Kuminga’s role

Jonathan Kuminga plans on taking a step forward this season, and the Warriors need the 21-year-old. He was the seventh overall pick in 2021. Kuminga continues to improve, but fell out of the playoff rotation last season. Can he set a new career-high in minutes and fully break out?

Finding a 6’8 forward with his athletic ability is not easy. Kuminga shot 37.0 percent from 3-point range last season and improved his playmaking. The Dubs hope he can play 30-plus minutes per game as a starter in his prime.

Kuminga is entering his third season but is just 21 years old. Several rookies are older than him, including Jordan Hawkins and Jamie Jaquez Jr., who were both selected in the top 20. Nobody is writing any of those players off yet, but the Warriors forward must continue improving.

Draymond Green’s injury makes Jonathan Kuminga even more important. The Golden State Warriors need someone to step up and play heavy minutes without the heart and soul of the team. Nobody can fill Green’s shoes, but Kuminga offers the most upside. Draymond will miss time throughout the year, and those will be the 21-year-old’s moments to prove he can be a starter on a title contender.