After months of waiting in what was one of the biggest storylines of the NBA offseason, Jonathan Kuminga inked a deal to stay with the Golden State Warriors for the time being.
After agreeing on an extension, Kuminga suited up in the Warriors’ first preseason matchup of 2025 against the Los Angeles Lakers, just days after rejoining the team. In the 111-103 win, Kuminga finished with five points, six rebounds, and four assists in 15 minutes off the bench.
After the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that while there was room for improvement, he liked what he saw from their returning wing player.
“I thought he played well,” Kerr said. “Obviously, he missed the first couple days of practice, so he was a little bit behind on some of the stuff we were doing. I thought JK played well.”
Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million extension with Golden State after a months-long stalemate. While his long-term future with the team is still in question, his performance in the team’s preseason win is a good sign for all sides involved.
Kuminga’s Preseason Performance
Kuminga finished the game with relatively limited playing time, but Kerr and Golden State’s coaching staff played a total of 18 players in the win, with none seeing more than 21 minutes of on-court action.
In his 15 minutes, Kuminga had a well-rounded performance. While known for his scoring ability, the wing took just three shots, but Kerr liked what he saw from the 23-year-old.
“Made a couple of great passes in transition. That second and third quarter, the game really flowed for us, and our transition, spacing, which we’ve been working on all week was great,” Kerr added. “So that was the best part of the game, those two quarters. I liked some of the plays that JK made during those stretches.”
As previously mentioned, Kuminga and the rest of the Warriors‘ roster played relatively few minutes in the preseason game. However, Kuminga rejoined Golden State’s training camp just days before their Lakers matchup, and while he didn’t work out with his teammates much, if any, over the summer, he didn’t look lost out there.
Kuminga could still be dealt at the trade deadline, but as Logan Struck wrote for Sports Illustrated, his playing well is good for both him and the team moving forward.
This training camp and preseason will be huge for Kuminga and the Warriors, as they not only look to compete for a title this season, but they also have to try to make the most of this Kuminga situation,” Struck wrote after Kuminga’s performance in the win.
Warriors’ Roster For 2025-26
Kuminga was one of multiple players for the Warriors who had eyes on them during the preseason win over Los Angeles.
Al Horford was another with big expectations and questions about how he’ll fit with the team. The former NBA champion with the Boston Celtics came off the bench and recorded just three points and four rebounds in 14 minutes, but Stephen Curry liked what he saw.
“High IQ, experienced championship caliber player that can really fit with any lineup out there,” Curry said of Horford postgame.
Here’s the clip and Curry’s full soundbite on the Horford addition postgame tonight
Horford was expected to join Golden State for most of the offseason, but couldn’t sign a deal until the team agreed to terms with Kuminga. Now heading into his first season with the Warriors at age 39, many believe he will contribute to winning. Kerr also thinks Horford will help unlock Kuminga’s true potential.
“With JK, we want to give him space when he’s got the ball,” Kerr told NBC Sports. “Al can do that. So, if JK’s at the four, Al’s at the five and we put shooters around those guys, that could be an interesting combination.”
Moses Moody was another star for the Warriors in the win, finishing with a game-high 19 points on 7/9 shooting. While questions remain on who Golden State will use in their starting lineup, Moody made a strong case on Sunday. Kerr hinted that he liked Moody as a starter and could use him in that role in the future.
19 PTS | 7-9 FGM | 5 3PM
Golden State gets the win over LA at Chase Center!
Golden State still has some questions surrounding its roster, but for now, the core of Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Horford, and the other shooters looks promising. Kuminga’s future remains unknown, but continued strong performances are a good sign heading into the season.
Steve Kerr Gets Brutally Honest On Kuminga In Win Over Lakers