Jonathan Kuminga, a rookie like no other | NBA

After discreet and irregular beginnings, Jonathan Kuminga has shown himself more for a month. He is indeed running at 11.7 points and 4.6 rebounds on average in 20 minutes over the last 14 games.

The rookie took full advantage of the minutes left by the absence of Draymond Green. He had even been a stealth holder, before returning to the bench. Despite this, he was not selected for the Rising Stars Challenge 2022…

“Every rookie has their own road”explains the GM of the Warriors, Bob Myers, at Mercury News. “These players are advancing on their side, and for Jonathan, seeing his contemporaries have more latitude is undoubtedly difficult. “

Because if Jonathan Kuminga has talent, he remains a very perfectible player. No doubt Steve Kerr also put him back on the bench because of his mistakes, especially in defense. Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner or Cade Cunningham can afford to make mistakes because they play in weak teams where progress comes before results.

“It’s his biggest challenge, to manage the ups and downs”assures the coach of the Californians. “And there are a lot of ups and downs. He’s so raw and talented, he has no limits. But because of his lack of experience, he will make mistakes. He is told that it is not serious to make mistakes, it is even normal. No one can come into the league and figure it all out. “

Guided by Draymond Green and the Elders

Except that at the Warriors, patience is a little shorter than at other teams. Golden State players are aiming for the title and Jonathan Kuminga must therefore be as fair and efficient as possible to help Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. The latter also monitors him and notices his progress.

“I saw his work ethic improve”relates the defender of the year 2017. “Not that he wasn’t a hard worker, I haven’t seen him much to say that, but he learned to work. “

That is to say ? “One has probably had someone teach him to work hard, to be a professional since he was ten,” specifies Draymond Green, speaking of Moses Moody, the second rookie of the Warriors, to then compare him to Jonathan Kuminga. “The other one is extremely talented, someone noticed him and sent him to the basketball court with his talent, and that was it. Without really guiding him. It wasn’t that he wasn’t listening, it was that he wasn’t told much. From now on, he is guided and he demonstrates that he accepts this. He wants to change what he’s been his whole life and he’s moving fast. “