Born in October 2002, Jonathan Kuminga grew up during Kobe Bryant’s great years. He was therefore eight years old in 2010, at the time of the last title against the Celtics, and ten when Kobe Bryant won his second Olympic gold medal in London, in 2012.
It is therefore not surprising to learn that the young Warriors player was marked by the Lakers legend.
“I was inspired by Kobe, I grew up watching a lot of images of him,” tells the Congolese 947 Joburg. “I didn’t have access to the footage at home. Those were mostly the days when my parents gave me money to go to the internet cafe and watch videos. They knew I loved basketball and I had pictures of Kobe all over my house. »
Jonathan Kuminga even had the chance to meet the five-time NBA champion, before arriving in the league in 2021. An unforgettable meeting, which we can date if we follow the story of the Golden State player.
“Kyrie Irving was like my mentor in high school (Jonathan Kuminga had left the Democratic Republic of Congo to attend Huntington Prep School, a high school in West Virginia that trains very talented young prospects, like Andrew Wiggins). I went to one of his games when I was in high school and after the game, in the tunnel, I saw Kobe. It has always been my dream to meet him. He knew me vaguely because I was a well-known high school student and I was surprised because he spoke to me and recognized me. I was blown away that Kobe knew my name. We took a photo with him and my teammates. I think we exchanged private messages a few days later and we were supposed to train together over the summer. The following week, tragedy struck. »
It was Sunday, January 26, 2020. Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people (John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser, Ara Zobayan), died in a helicopter crash in California.
| Jonathan Kuminga | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | GOS | 70 | 17 | 51.3 | 33.6 | 68.4 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 9.3 |
| 2022-23 | GOS | 67 | 21 | 52.5 | 37.0 | 65.2 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 9.9 |
| Total | 137 | 19 | 51.9 | 35.3 | 67.1 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 9.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
