Steve Kerr explains why Jonathan Kuminga was ‘a tough guy’ with the Warriors: ‘He needed the runway to make more mistakes’

A months-long saga surrounding Jonathan Kuminga and his future finally came to a close on Wednesday when the Golden State Warriors traded him to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a deal that brought in Warriors big man Kristaps Porziņģis.

Kuminga, 23, spent four-plus seasons with Golden State after playing for the NBA G League Ignite and then was taken No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Announcement

Consistency has been difficult for Kuminga to find early in his NBA career. He had a particularly up-and-down 2025-26 season that saw him temporarily dropped from the Warriors rotation and then request a trade.

Longtime Warriors coach Steve Kerr told ESPN that Kuminga was “just a tough guy” ever since he entered the league.

“I think it was a tough situation for everyone, given how raw he was when he got here and given that we were still playing for the championship,” Kerr said, per Anthony Slater.

“He needed the runway to make more mistakes. He needed the experience of being in the NBA and understanding what it was all about. It was very difficult for him to not allow him to make those mistakes. For us as a staff, it was tricky to try to develop him while trying to win. I think it’s as simple as that.

“Everybody liked him. I liked him. He’s a really good guy. Very nice. Well-liked in the locker room. Just a standout.”

[Get more Warriors news: Golden State team feed]

During his rookie season, Kuminga played a role in the Warriors’ journey to their fourth NBA title under Kerr. He also had three 17-plus point performances during the 2022 playoffs.

In the following four seasons, however, Kuminga did not unlock his potential. While he showed glimpses, he was criticized for his defensive mistakes and was not a mainstay in the starting five of a Warriors team desperate to add another banner in the final years of Stephen Curry’s legendary career.

Announcement

Prior to this season, Kuminga signed a two-year contract worth $48.5 million to return to the Warriors. He repaid Golden State with a good start.

In his first nine games, all as a starter, Kuminga averaged 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 51.4% from the field and 41.4% from 3-point range.

But he struggled in the next three games and lost his spot in the starting lineup heading into the Nov. 12 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Then Kuminga missed seven straight games with a knee injury. When he returned, his decline in performance continued. He was soon relegated to the bench.

Announcement

Jimmy Butler III’s torn ACL opened the door for Kuminga to play again, despite his recent trade request. Kuminga scored 20 points in 21 minutes during a loss to the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 20 and then, before suffering a bone bruise in his knee, scored 10 points in nine minutes in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 22.

Unfortunately for Golden State, its pursuit of another championship has thus far fallen short, and its short-term roster changes in the twilight of Curry’s career have sidelined the development of a player like Kuminga.

Luckily for Kuminga, he will start again in Atlanta.