Jonathan Kuminga remains Warriors’ biggest mystery, but his opening-night performance was an important step

LOS ANGELES – It’s not hyperbole to say that the Golden State Warriors’ offseason literally revolved around Jonathan Kuminga. So much so that the organization didn’t even have enough players on its active roster to hold a five-on-five scrimmage until it figured out what direction it wanted to take with Kuminga.

Sure, the Warriors had commitments from veterans such as Al Horford, Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton, but that didn’t matter. Golden State couldn’t move forward without knowing what to do with its 23-year-old forward, a restricted free agent. After all the dust settled, Golden State ended up being the last team in the association to add a newcomer either via free agency or on the trade market.

Waiting to decide Kuminga’s future just weeks before Tuesday’s season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers was undoubtedly a risk. However, the Warriors’ thinking — and the almost obvious decision to bring back Kuminga and kick it going forward — appears to be the right one. Kuminga finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 33 minutes in the Warriors’ 119-109 win over the Lakers and showed why the best version of Golden State revolves around him being at his best.

“He’s really matured,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We’ve had some really good conversations. He has a better understanding. … I think he just has a better idea of ​​what’s needed now compared to previous years. I think Jimmy (Butler) has really helped him too.”

Part of the reason Kuminga remains the biggest unknown on this list is that there are flashes — like Tuesday — that prove he should be a crucial cog in the long-term plan. But, at the same time, the reason there have been question marks — and why he signed a two-year, $48 million return contract — is because there have been perplexing periods during his career that could lead to an inevitable divorce.

Kuminga wants to be highlighted. This is why the field of the Sacramento Kings – who were reportedly interested in him this summer – could have attracted his camp. If Kuminga had been traded this summer, he could have been a full-time starter in a low-stakes environment. That obviously didn’t happen, but the Warriors could still hypothetically trade him starting January 15th.

For now, Kuminga is a warrior. And they both need this partnership to work – however long it lasts – to win a fifth title for this core. Kuminga might be the team’s biggest X-Factor outside of the obvious “Big Three” of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, simply because of his unique blend of size and athleticism.

Kuminga didn’t shoot well in the first half of the opener, but he added value by creating second chance opportunities and being disruptive on the defensive end. He also had the toughest assignment on the court, taking on Lakers star Luka Dončić for extended periods.

“For him, it wasn’t easy to find minutes on our team,” Kerr said. “I’m really proud that he’s stuck with it and that he’s really matured. It’s a good start for him and a good start for us.”

Kuminga showed what he could do in a high-stakes environment, like in last season’s playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played 27.4 minutes and averaged 20.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists during the five-game series. But before that, he was getting DNPs down the stretch of the regular season. Curry’s hamstring injury in the playoffs against Minnesota forced Kuminga into a bigger role — which he capitalized on — which left more questions than answers.

Why can’t Kuminga be like this more consistently? This is literally a multi-million dollar question.

The reality of how the Warriors have constructed their team is that there will be games where Curry, Butler, Green and Horford will need to rest. Kerr already said this month that Horford would not play back-to-backs this season and that with Golden State having 15 back-to-backs, Kuminga could have plenty of opportunities to flourish in a starring role.

Kuminga remains the biggest mystery on the Warriors roster. In fact, a performance like Tuesday begs the question of how he ended up out of Golden State’s rotation.

At the same time, he needs to be at his best to justify the chaos Golden State has been through this offseason. If this was a preview of what this season could be, the Warriors will be right to play the long game as Kuminga seems to be sold on the vision of what the franchise hopes to accomplish.

“When you ask for an opportunity, you have to give it,” Green said after Tuesday’s win. “I think he talked a lot about his opportunity and he kept his promises. When you see a guy who is willing to risk his life and speak out, and he keeps his promises, you have to reward him.”