In Golden State, the Warriors have built a roster that can compete for years to come. Besides Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the Warriors also have young standouts like Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, and Damion Lee.
They also have Jonathan Kuminga, who is starting for the squad at center. According to Draymond Green, Kuminga has the talent to become a true star in this league and could even become the next face of the franchise:
Some games he starts and shines bright. But on most nights, the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft plays sporadically or not at all. While NBA rookies such as Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley and Jalen Green got plenty of minutes, Kuminga was fighting for a role on a Golden State team with championship aspirations.
But in the long run, expectations are that the 19-year-old’s early growing pains will eventually build the 6-foot-7 small forward into an NBA superstar.
“He’s going to be really good,” Warriors All-Star forward Draymond Green told Andscape. “He can be a perennial All-Star in this league. That’s up to him and the work he puts in. But he has the skills, the tools, he can see the floor, he has the opportunity if he puts the work in to be a perennial All-Star.”
Kuminga was drafted seventh overall in 2021 and has flashed stretches of dominance in his rookie campaign. Through 70 games, he averaged 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game on 51% shooting. In these playoffs, he has been a key player for the team as a middle man on both ends of the floor.
Long after the “big three” call it quits, it could be Kuminga who ushers in and leads the next era of dominance for the team. Until then, he’s still got plenty to prove and a whole lot to work on if he wants to maximize his game.
