Jonathan Kuminga has performed simply 5 video games within the six weeks because the Golden State Warriors traded him to the Atlanta Hawks. He’ll be again Saturday evening to point out his outdated crew what they misplaced.
The Hawks sat Kuminga on Friday as a part of their administration of his knee damage, resting him on the entrance half of a back-to-back. The younger ahead could not have performed a lot for the Hawks, nevertheless it’s an enormous change from when Kuminga was a frequent wholesome scratch for his outdated crew.
Jonathan Kuminga has one thing to show to the Warriors
Kuminga was the No. 7 decide within the 2021 NBA Draft, however he by no means fairly discovered constant enjoying time with the Warriors, who had been a shock title crew in 2022. Warriors coach Steve Kerr struggled to slot in Kuminga and different younger gamers into the rotation whereas veterans like Steph Curry and Draymond Inexperienced wanted to win now. It did not assist that Kuminga’s most efficient stretches had been typically derailed by damage woes.
Even when Kuminga signed a two-year contract earlier than the 2025-26 season, it felt like his contract was designed to be a commerce chip, with a crew choice for 2026-27. The Warriors held out hope that Kuminga may very well be part of a commerce for a celebrity like Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier than flipping him for Kristaps Porzingis on the commerce deadline.
Kuminga scored 27 factors in 24 minutes in his Hawks debut and is placing up 14.8 PPG, together with 7.5 rebounds. That is the sort of efficiency, notably in rebounding, that the Warriors would have beloved to see from their lottery decide, however the match with the roster and coach made it a rarity in Golden State.
Hawks have a brighter playoff future than Warriors
The Kuminga-for-Porzingis commerce occurred the identical week that Steph Curry injured his knee. He hasn’t performed since Jan. 30, when the Warriors had been 27-22. Since then, they’ve gone 6-15.
The Hawks are shifting in the other way. They gained Kuminga’s debut and continued with an 11-game win streak, earlier than the Rockets defeated them Friday, 117-95. They went from the fringes of the play-in match to an actual likelihood at a top-five end within the Jap Convention. With Kuminga within the lineup, they’re 6-0, all dougle-digit wins.
That is why Saturday is greater than only a revenge recreation for Kuminga. It is an opportunity to get his crew into place for a playoff run. And in contrast to with Golden State, Kuminga will get loads of enjoying time so long as he stays wholesome.
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