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The Golden State Warriors scored a massive Christmas Day road victory over the Phoenix Suns. With the win, the Warriors snatched the top spot in the league standings and now hold the best record in the NBA. Despite being down several key wing players and facing a fully healthy Suns team, the Dubs still managed to take down Phoenix on their home floor.
Multiple Warriors players stepped up in the absence of Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Moses Moody, and Damion Lee, who were all in the league's health and safety protocols. This included prized rookie Jonathan Kuminga. The 19-year old played extended floor time, netting 21 minutes under the bright lights of the highly-anticipated Christmas Day showdown. Kuminga notched 12 points, went 3-of-4 from the field, drained his only 3-point shot attempt, and converted 5-of-6 from the foul line. His performance in such a high-level affair definitely turned some heads and gave Steve Kerr even more good problems when his roster comes back at full strength.
Golden State's COVID situation has benefitted Kuminga and he has taken advantage of the opportunity given to him. Many believed the Congolese-born forward would be a raw prospect who would not be ready to contribute meaningful minutes. But with his play as of late, Kuminga has made a case for a larger and more consistent role with the Warriors. Steve Kerr should strongly consider making him a fixture in their rotation moving forward.
Against Phoenix, Kuminga proved he isn't fazed by the bright lights and could play in these high-stakes games. This is invaluable experience for the rookie, who could see some minutes for the Warriors in the postseason.
Kuminga was a plus-5 in his 21 minutes on the floor. He more than held his ground against an elite team like Phoenix. Steve Kerr has previously assigned him to some of the better offensive players in the NBA, such as DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, among others. On Saturday, he got the enviable task of guarding Chris Paul in the fourth quarter. His length and versatility definitely bothered the future Hall of Famer during that brief stint.
Kuminga also isn't a player who doesn't lack confidence and bravado. Upon checking into the game, the first thing he did was try to put a Suns defender in the basket with a nasty dunk attempt. He didn't complete the play but his aggressiveness earned him two shots at the charity stripe. More importantly, this indicates that he is capable of providing instant impact the moment he steps on the floor.
This spectacular baseline reverse at a crucial stretch in the fourth quarter also demonstrated why Kuminga isn't afraid of the moment.
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"That's no rookie!"
Jonathan Kuminga with the TOUGH reverse…6 minutes left on ABC 🔥#NBAXmas #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/QOb1Na3WFx
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2021
Kuminga's strong outing against Phoenix comes a couple of games after he notched a career-high 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting in a loss to the Toronto Raptors on December 18th. He even converted 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
The Warriors did not have Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Andre Iguodala, and Jordan Poole for that outing, thus it essentially became a chance for the youngsters like Kuminga and Moody to showcase why they deserve more minutes moving forward.
Certainly, Kuminga did not disappoint. He showed the entire repertoire, from his athletic drives and finishes at the basket, to even knocking down his 3-pointers, a noted weakness of his game during the draft process. Since that Toronto game, Kuminga has drained seven of his last 12 3-pointers. His notable improvement with his shot is definitely a welcome development for his game.
Draymond Green, who set him up nicely on the play above, noted a couple of weeks ago how Kuminga will be a key ingredient in their bid to win a championship this season. He pointed out how the 19-year old's athleticism and physical gifts bring a unique dynamic to the team that nobody else does.
Veteran forward Andre Iguodala has served as the main mentor for the youngster. Kuminga revealed how Iggy's locker room is next to his and the tutelage from the 37-year old has helped his mindset to stay ready when his number is called. Iguodala's return has definitely been a nice reunion for the Warriors. But Father Time is slowly creeping up on the 2015 Finals MVP, as he has missed nearly half of Golden State's games this season due to various injuries.
In many ways, Kuminga's fast ascension gives the Warriors some Iguodala insurance in case the savvy veteran isn't fully healthy for the postseason. Of course, Iguodala's 18-year experience is going to be tough to fill for a 19-year old rookie. But if Kuminga continues to grow leaps and bounds in his rookie year, it wouldn't be surprising if he earns a consistent role for the Warriors the rest of the way.
