For months, Jonathan Kuminga‘s body language told part of the story from the end of the Golden State Warriors‘ bench. Now, the split is official after he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks.
The 23-year-old forward agreed to part ways with the Warriors in a trade that sent him and Buddy Hield to the Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis.
The move comes after a season marked by tension between Kuminga and head coach Steve Kerr, uneven playing time, and what sources describe as a breakdown in trust on both sides.
The most glaring flashpoint came during a 16-game stretch in which a healthy Kuminga did not play. At the time, it was widely believed to be solely Kerr‘s decision.
But according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, team sources now suggest the situation was more complicated. In a report, it is claimed Kuminga was asked to go onto the court four times, but he declined three mop-up duty opportunities.
It also claims he ruled himself out of the Oklahoma City Thunder game on January 2 because of back soreness after Kerr said he’d get a chunk of minutes with Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green out.
That game against the Thunder appears to have been a turning point. Coaching staff and the front office saw it as the ‘unofficial end’ and that he had mentally quit on the team.
From Kuminga‘s perspective, however, the frustration had been building for weeks.
How the Kuminga-Warriors relationship unraveled
The cracks began showing earlier in the season. After coming off the bench for 12 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs on November 12 – his lowest output of the year at that point – Kuminga fell completely out of Kerr‘s rotation. He did not return to the floor until November 29.
In a brief four-game stretch afterward, he averaged 7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 19.3 minutes per game.
But the opportunity did not last. Over the next two months, he appeared in just three more games for the Golden State Warriors.
Speculation about a potential split had lingered since last offseason. As a restricted free agent, Kuminga held out for months, reportedly hoping for an offer sheet or a trade.
While some believed he might sign his qualifying offer and test unrestricted free agency in 2026, he instead agreed to a two-year, $46.8 million extension on the first day of training camp. Five months later, he was gone.
What Porginzis’ trade means
The Golden State Warriors‘ decision to acquire Porzingis signals a win-now recalibration, prioritizing size and floor spacing around Curry and Green.
For the Hawks, the trade represents a gamble on Kuminga‘s upside – betting that a change of scenery can unlock the potential that once made him a prized lottery pick.
Kuminga is currently sidelined with a bone bruise in his left knee and has yet to debut for the Hawks. He is expected to return after the NBA All-Star break.
What happens next will shape the narrative. If he struggles, the Warriors‘ decision may look justified, but it may have been that patience was required from both sides to repair the relationship.
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