In another unlucky move that has the Golden State Warriors as a protagonist, many critics are aimed at the man at the wheel, Steve Kerr. In a narrative that feels more like a recurring nightmare as the words “Fire Steve Kerr” have resurged back again, the cause of the pain comes from roughly 2,000 miles away, in Atlanta.
There, Jonathan Kuminga made his debut for the Atlanta Hawks, and he did it in a way that if we just describe it as ‘good‘, it would deffo be an understatement. After recovering from a bone bruise just in time for his debut since the trade deadline, Kuminga completely dismantled the Washington Wizards with a power that Warriors fans rarely saw sustained in San Francisco.
Big backlash to the people in charge
As clips of Kuminga’s massive dunks circulated on social media, the frustration toward Steve Kerr turned as toxic as it gets. Fans who had long complained about Kuminga’s short minutes before and tight leash under Kerr felt scammed.
“Kerr is such a dog s- coach man,” one fan wrote, while others opted for more provocative labels, calling the four-time champion coach a “basketball terrorist” for failing to develop Kuminga’s raw talent in their team.
This anger comes from over four seasons of what fans perceive as wasting time in the name of a win-now philosophy. While Kerr recently took ownership, stating, “I’m sorry it didn’t happen here… definitely things I could have done better,” that apology has done little to satisfy or help forget a fanbase watching their former prospect thrive with his newfound freedom.
Kuminga’s night in Atlanta
Kuminga’s performance last night was more than just a revenge game or a statement to his detractors, it was historical. In a 119-98 impressive win for the Hawks, Kuminga scored 27 points out of 9-of-12 shooting. He also added to his records 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and knocked down three 3-pointers.
With those numbers, he became the first player in Hawks history to debut with over 25 points in under 30 minutes (he played just 24).
When star forward Jalen Johnson was forced to exit early with a hip flexor injury, Kuminga stepped in to make history be written. When he came in, he attacked space, finished through contact, and flourished in transition. A true superstar that Steve Kerr may have left behind.
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