Steve Kerr drops uncertain Jonathan Kuminga update after Warriors loss originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Golden State Warriors missed a large chunk of their roster on Friday night. Jonathan Kuminga was among those who sat out, even though he wasn’t expected to initially.
Lately, Kuminga hasn’t been in the Warriors’ lineup. Steve Kerr has had the veteran forward out of the rotation, but Friday’s action was expected to be a prime opportunity for Kuminga to be a part of the action.
Unfortunately, Kuminga was scratched as he reportedly dealt with a minor back issue.
“[He got hurt] just before the game,” Kerr told reporters. “I don’t know [if it will linger]. I have no idea.”
Kuminga’s sudden absence is a strange timing. Just weeks from now, he’ll be eligible to get traded after re-signing a two-year deal with the Warriors during the offseason.
The expectation is that Kuminga will not be a part of the Warriors for long. Not getting traded would be way more stunning than getting moved at this point.
Kuminga’s last on-court appearance happened on December 18, when the Warriors played the Phoenix Suns. He checked in for a little under 10 minutes in the 99-98 loss.
Before that, Kuminga picked up three-straight DNPs. Before Kuminga started falling out of the rotation, he began the year as a full-time starter. In the first 12 games, he posted averages of 14.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting 48 percent from the field and 33 percent from three.
At this point, Kuminga has made just 18 appearances in 35 games for the Warriors. For most of the season, he’s been healthy. Clearly, the Warriors don’t have any immediate answers on a possible timeline for Kuminga.
On Saturday, the Warriors will be back on the court for a matchup against the Utah Jazz. Kuminga’s status for the outing remains up in the air. If he’s not active on Saturday, then Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers becomes his next chance to re-enter the lineup.
