Jonathan Kuminga will face his former team the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, having made a strong start to his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kuminga might be playing well as a starter for the 3-1 Timberwolves, yet he's also proving Steve Kerr right by doing it as a valuable role player rather than being the star he once envisioned for himself.
Jonathan Kuminga is proving Steve Kerr was right all along
Kuminga is averaging 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists through his first four games with the Timberwolves after signing a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the franchise in free agency.
They're not spectacular numbers by any means, but all that matters is that Kuminga is contributing by being efficient and doing the little things like rebounding and playing defense. Minnestoa absolutely decimated their first three opponents in the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors, before admirably falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Timberwolves have been a +62 in Kuminga's 119 minutes, ranked third on the team behind Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards. The 24-year-old is shooting 46.7% from three-point range, though his free-throw shooting still needs work after missing a crucial one late in regulation against the Cavaliers. Kuminga also has 10 assists to just one turnover so far this season, having entered with a 1.20 assist-to-turnover ratio through his career.
But this isn't a case of Kuminga proving Kerr and the Warriors wrong, rather one of proving them right. They wanted him to be this kind of valuable role player and knew he had the athleticism and skillset to provide it, only Kuminga wanted to reach for greater heights as a player.
Jonathan Kuminga may get increased opportunity without Anthony Edwards
Kuminga currently ranks sixth on the Timberwolves in scoring, but a worrisome knee injury for Edwards could suddenly deliver the former seventh overall pick will more offensive opportunity and usage.
Edwards could be sidelined for up to two months after a procedure on his right knee. If Kuminga is forced to step up offensively and do more, it will be fascinating to see how that impacts impacts his effiency and overall impact.
The Warriors will get a first-hand look at this new version of Kuminga, and the one that might emerge without Edwards, when they travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
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