If Stephen Curry scored 31 points, including the winning basket, against the Blazers, the real hero of the match is called Jonathan Kuminga. However, it was a very bad start for him since he remained sitting on the bench from the first to the 31st minute! It was only five minutes from the end of the 3rd quarter that Steve Kerr decided to bring him into play. And “JK” was never going to come out of the match!
Logical since he will reverse the course of the match with 13 points on 6 out of 6 shots, including an exceptional alley-oop with his head in the circle! The winger played his role as a joker perfectly, and Steve Kerr denies having forgotten him…
The “game changer”
“JK was not in the rotation because it is difficult to play 10 players and Brandin and Moses deserved their playing time,” the coach justified himself. “We obviously needed him at the end of the match. Faced with Portland's youth and athleticism, we needed JK, and I'm very proud that he stayed ready. »
With ants in his legs, Jonathan Kuminga will launch a 10-0 to put the Warriors back in the match, and his aggressiveness will change the face of his formation. “He totally changed the meeting” even believes Chris Paul. Because Jonathan Kuminga is not just going to go to the circle, he is also going to shut down Anfernee Simons.
“It’s our job, as young people, to bring energy” reacts the Golden State winger. “We saw Moses and BP do it… I’m always ready, and you shouldn’t pass up opportunities like that. »
Growing maturity
What makes his mentor, Kevon Looney, proud, always there to motivate him and keep him under pressure. “He does a really good job of staying involved.” notes the Warriors pivot. “As soon as he came on the field, he worked hard, and he was a big part of our victory. It's always difficult to be in this situation, but he showed his maturity. I don't know if he would have been able to do that two years ago, or even last season. He channeled his energy in the right direction. He didn't brood or sulk. He came into play, and gave it his all! »
But be careful, Steve Kerr warns that with such a wide rotation, that does not mean that his performance gives him a free pass for the next match…
“Every night is different with this team” he concludes. “It all depends on the opponent, and the match scenario. It's difficult to predict what will happen, and it's just as difficult to play 10 or 11 players. »
| Jonathan Kuminga | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2023-24 | GOS | 19 | 20 | 44.9 | 25.0 | 68.6 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 11.0 |
| Total | 156 | 19 | 50.9 | 33.9 | 67.3 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 9.8 | |
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.
