close
close

“Jonathan Kuminga speaks bluntly about Steve Kerr benching him”.

The Golden State Warriors had to make a change to the starting lineup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night with Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins sidelined due to injuries.

After starting the season with Curry and Wiggins alongside Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis, it was reasonable to assume that Steve Kerr would only find two new starters for this game. Kerr inserted three new starters, inserting Moses Moody, Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski alongside Green and Jackson-Davis, sending Jonathan Kuminga to the bench.

Via Shams Charania of ESPN: “The Warriors are moving F Jonathan Kuminga to the bench tonight against the Pelicans, sources tell me and @kendra__andrews. A fascinating development in a fourth season in which an extension has not yet been completed for either side and the team has discussed using him for the next step.”

Kuminga, who is set to enter restricted free agency this offseason, made a blunt statement on his bench, via Danny Emerman of the Bay Area News Group.

“It’s not my decision,” Kuminga said. “This is my fourth year.” It's not the first time something like this has happened.

“It’s his decision,” Kuminga added to Kerr about Emerman. “I am not the coach. When Steve has made his decision, he has made his decision. I’m not the coach.”

Per Emerman, Kuminga added that he is “not upset” about being left out of the starting XI. Still, Emerman added that the young forward's camp is skeptical of Kerr's commitment to making Kuminga a key part of Golden State's offense.

Steve Kerr and Jonathan Kuminga

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr speaks with forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Kuminga entered this game averaging just 8.0 points in three games to start the season, making just 33.3 percent of his field goal attempts and 11.1 percent of his three-point attempts.

Draymond Green's reaction to Steph Curry's incredible USAF shot goes viral

Boston Celtics legend slams Steve Kerr over Jayson Tatum's controversial decision

Caitlin Clark's two-word reaction to Steph Curry's USA-France performance