The 2021 NBA Draft class was loaded with talent, and some think this might be the best class since LeBron James’ 2003 crop. Sunday night, the NBA Summer League hosted a matchup between two wings drafted in the first round; Golden State Warriors youngster Jonathan Kuminga and New Orleans Pelicans talent Trey Murphy III.
Both players performed well for their teams. Kuminga scored 17 points, while his counterpart Murphy III scored a game-high 22 points. The Pelicans came away with the overtime victory, and Kuminga left the game with the respect of one of his peers.
“He’s (Kuminga) a great player,” Trey Murphy said about the Warriors rookie. “You have to use your length against guys like that because it makes it difficult for them. You can’t try to beat him with strength because he’s going to beat you in that category, so you have to use your length in order to stop him or make it difficult.”
Going into Summer League, people still had concerns about the 18-year-old rookie. Seeing Kuminga in different scenarios and watching him compete at a high level has been reassuring. The idea of him not being ready to play right away are diminishing quickly. Now Golden State fans are eager to see how well he will do with the veterans in the regular season.
Summer League is a small sample of what it feels like to play in the NBA. Going head to head with NBA superstars on a regular isn’t possible to duplicate. The style of play in the regular season will speed up. Rookies will have to adjust their games even more, but with the support of great veterans, Jonathan Kuminga will have plenty of aid navigating through his rookie season. That’s good news for Warriors fans.
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