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Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga exited Saturday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies with an apparent injury, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic on X. He awkwardly landed after attempting to block a shot. Immediately after, he was seen limping to the locker room. Kuminga will not return to the game. The injury is “significant,” according to Slater, and head coach Steve Kerr said it won't be a “day-to-day injury.”
The Golden State forward has been on the rise this season. Even Warriors teammate Draymond Green dropped a ‘superstar' guarantee about Kuminga before Saturday's game. Not to mention, his name has circled in trade discussions between him and Jimmy Butler.
Regardless of those, he's been the bright spot offensively, besides Stephen Curry. As a result, his career averages have improved drastically. However, he's in an interesting spot with Kerr. In some games, he'll start Kuminga, and in other games, he'll come off the bench.
While the move isn't too worrisome, it makes sense, considering what happened this previous offseason. Kuminga was hoping for a contract extension by the Warriors, but it didn't happen. They offered around $30 million annually, but both sides couldn't agree. Despite that, he's been a crucial part of the Warriors success this season.
Will Jonathan Kuminga's injury be significant for the Warriors?
A sprained ankle isn't for the faint of heart, especially for Kuminga. He's one of the most athletic players in the NBA, as we speak. He can change speeds instantly and maintain the same speed in any direction. Plus, he's turned into a fantastic off-ball player.
Kuminga plays off of Draymond Green and Curry so well. Those two attract so much attention with their ball handling that it frees up Kuminga on any side of the court. Plus, his athleticism blends nicely with his teammates. It brings a different dynamic to the floor and helps the two veterans on both sides of the ball.
Furthermore, he plans to stay with Golden State through the season. Even Kuminga himself said that other players would quit if they were in his shoes. He might be right on that. However, there's plenty of season left. While the Warriors have turned the corner compared to where they were, losing Kuminga hurts.
Still, it'll be a next-man-up mentality after finding out the severity of the injury. For now, fans can only hope and wait for Kuminga to recover faster than anticipated.
