In a game that was slowly but surely heading towards a loss that would have caused a stir, it was not Draymond Green, Jordan Poole or Klay Thompson who made the difference for the Warriors, but their twenty-year-old winger, Jonathan Kuminga. His will, his aggression and his simple refusal to lose the game propelled the Warriors to victory, with less than four minutes left and a parity score.
“We put him on the field in the last quarter for his defense. He was huge defensively and that freed him up offensively.” noted Steve Kerr. “He was rewarded for his efforts. He was brilliant at the end of the game. »
Game-changing actions
Jonathan Kuminga indeed scored 6 of his 14 points in the last three minutes, but it was his ferocity that changed the face of the end of the match. Three actions in particular stood out:
– He took the ball in the hands of PJ Washington, leaving the latter speechless
– He went for a defensive rebound in traffic to finish a big stop
– He attacked the circle as all of his teammates except Jordan Poole were looking for the 3-point knockout
After a good stint that saw him solidify his place in Steve Kerr’s rotation, Jonathan Kuminga fell back into his failings during the six-game road trip to the East. Against Memphis and Charlotte, he was again decisive in a role he understands better and better.
“He has taken a step forward, he has been focused on his role as a defensive stopper for a month. He found that role and settled into it.” described Steve Kerr.
Prior to his crucial final four minutes tonight, he had spent most of his other 20 minutes on the court harassing LaMelo Ball. In the Christmas game, he did the same against Ja Morant, forcing the Grizzlies All-Star to work hard for his points.
“The way Draymond (Green), Klay (Thompson), Andre (Iguodala) defend is something that inspires me. Wiggs (Andrew Wiggins) as well,” explains Jonathan Kuminga. “I try to follow their example, to continue this tradition to help the team win games. »
He also describes his interception on PJ Washington as a carbon copy of what Andre Iguodala was doing in his heyday. “I studied Andre, he used to make these kinds of interceptions when another player exposes the ball like that. »
An identity in the making
With the absence of Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga has been able to benefit from more playing time and that allows him to be much more comfortable on the pitch.
“I feel more and more comfortable because I can string together matches. Sometimes I can learn by making mistakes… although Steve (Kerr) doesn’t leave me on the field if I overdo it,” he jokes. “I work hard every day and being around the veterans definitely gives you more confidence. »
Despite this narrow victory, the good mood was on for the Warriors, not because they beat a Charlotte team which had won only five away games so far but because they see Jonathan Kuminga grow before their eyes.
“I’m very proud of him,” said Clay Thompson. “He made very important baskets while defending all the ground on the opposing star. Without him, without his intensity, we wouldn’t have won tonight. So yes, I’m extremely proud of JK. He is finding his identity. »
Interview in San Francisco.
