The Golden State Warriors’ stars are making their voices heard. According to Brett Siegel, Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler have all advocated for the front office to resolve Jonathan Kuminga’s contract standoff, with each of them making it clear they want the 22-year-old forward back in Golden State.
“Business is business, and Golden State’s veterans understand that,” wrote Siegel. “But at the same time, Kuminga has signaled that he is willing to help the team with a smaller initial cap figure, and all he wants in return is the respect to decide on his own future down the road. Steph, Draymond, and Jimmy have been advocates for the organization to make Kuminga happy with this request, sources said.”
The relationship between Kuminga and the Warriors can only be described as murky. He was a rookie when they won the title in 2022 and was supposed to be a key piece of their future. In the 2023-24 campaign, he showed great promise on the court with averages of 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on 52.9% shooting before his stats saw a dip across the board.
As Kuminga was punished for his mistakes, it often put him at odds with coach Kerr, resulting in public call-outs, DNPs, and reduced minutes in the rotation. Things only got worse this offseason when the Warriors refused to concede on his demands.
While Kuminga’s ideal contract is somewhere around $30 million per year, his biggest request is a player option on the last year of his contract. It will allow him more control of his future, and he’s willing to give up some money to get it done.
The Warriors haven’t budged yet, but pressure from their stars could change that. As a championship core with years of experience, they know what it takes to win, and they all agree that Kuminga helps their odds.
For Butler in particular, having a younger player on the wing will help him preserve his energy and provide an alternative against younger, more athletic opponents. At the very least, Kuminga can provide a boost off the bench to help stabilize the team when any of the star trio is off the floor.
Ultimately, until the Warriors give Kuminga what he wants, this stalemate threatens to interrupt all of the momentum they built last season. If it becomes a big enough distraction, it might ruin Curry’s final act and cost the Warriors their best chance to win another title. Curry, Draymond, and Butler know how important Kuminga is, and losing him now would only hinder their chances of success.
For the Warriors, this isn’t just about money or contract structure; it’s about sending the right message to one of their most important young players. Kuminga has shown he can contribute at a high level, and the backing of Curry, Draymond, and Butler makes it clear that the locker room is on his side. If Golden State truly wants to maximize this window, giving Kuminga the respect he’s asking for might be the only way forward.
