For years, the Golden State Warriors waited for Jonathan Kuminga to break out and become the organization's next big star. Ultimately, it never happened.
Kuminga showed flashes of his undeniable potential on many occasions, but it seldom felt like head coach Steve Kerr fully trusted him.
By the end of Kuminga's run with the Warriors, it had become very clear that he needed to leave if he wanted enough opportunities. Despite the team's struggles this season, he played just 20 times and averaged 23.8 minutes per game.
Kuminga would end up demanding a trade from the Warriors in mid-January. It took a few weeks, but he was eventually granted his wish.
The Warriors traded Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis at the trade deadline.
Kuminga is set to face off against the Warriors for the first time since being traded.
Kerr has nothing but best wishes for his former player, though. Before the game against the Hawks, Kerr talked to The Athletic about the Kuminga reunion.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
“To be honest, I haven’t given it much thought because we’re trying to win a damn game,” Kerr said. “But I can tell you that everybody likes JK. Everybody on our team wants the best for him. I want the best for him.”
That said, that statement from the Warriors' head coach does not mean that there were never tensions behind the scenes between the two.
A report from ESPN's Anthony Slater published on Feb. 11 shed light on how, in a meeting, Kerr had voiced his displeasure with Kuminga's lack of buy-in and competitiveness toward the team goals and Kuminga let out his hurt about Kerr's longtime lack of belief in him as a player.
Since the trade, Kuminga has played just six times for the Hawks. In that time, he has averaged 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 22.7 minutes per contest.
It is also worth mentioning that he is showing career-best efficiency since the move. He has making 56.6% of his field goals and 58.3% from three-point range.
Kuminga has missed his fair share of games since joining the Hawks, but is expected to play against the Warriors on Saturday, perhaps having a point or two to prove on the night.
Atlanta hosts Golden State at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday night.
