Kerr uses the Steph quote to ease Kuminga's frustration with the role. originally appeared nbc sports birea
The future of Jonathan Kuminga was a hot topic after the Warriors' season-ending loss against the los angeles lakers last week.
Kuminga, the 20-year-old forward, played sparingly in his second career nba playoff run. Reports created an uproar Kuminga may seek a trade If he doesn't get a “full time role” to move on.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr used a story from a recent dinner with stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green to allay Kuminga's concerns.
Kerr asked Curry and Green, teammates for the last 11 seasons, with 13 combined trips to the All-Star Game, how long it took them before they could consistently impress at the NBA level.
“Steph called his third year, and Drummond said his fourth year. These are guys who went to college for years three and four,” Kerr told 95.7 The Game on Tuesday. Mark Willard and Dan Dibley, “They were 24, 25 years old with a whole lot of college experience and several years of NBA experience before they felt they could affect a win.
“This stuff doesn't happen overnight.”
Kuminga played 6.1 minutes per game in the Warriors' playoff run, a small step (8.6 minutes) from his playing time during their championship run the previous summer. He played four or fewer minutes in nine of the team's 13 contests in the 2023 playoffs, including three DNPs (Did Not Play).
While six players selected ahead of Kuminga in the 2021 NBA Draft found roles on their team, only Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley is making an impact on the playoff team.
Not on the roster are youngsters like Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets) and Josh Gide (Oklahoma City Thunder) who are currently chasing championships like the 20-year-old Kuminga.
“Is he upset that he didn't play? I think he's disappointed that he didn't play,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley. “I expect nobody in his position would be disappointed not to play.
“These guys are competitive, and they're dying to be out there. I didn't put him out there, so he has every right to be disappointed. Anything beyond that is just speculation.”
Kuminga was drafted as a potential 18-year-old OG in 2021 after spending a year out of high school with the NBA G League Ignite. He will turn 21 in October, just days before Year 3 officially begins in the league.
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Curry was drafted as a 21-year-old after three seasons of college ball at Davidson. A 21-year-old Green was getting ready for another season at Michigan State under coach Tom Izzo.
“All these young people have a lot to learn,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley. “It will come with time, but we cannot rush it.”