Warriors exploring S&T for Kuminga

[AirP.]

Is he a willing passer? I know I only watched him in the 2nd half of this season and I saw a lot of possessions where he just decided he was taking the shot but on set plays, like where he would come across the lane to get a pass and then zip it over to the corner without really looking, he was able to do that fine. He has the ability to pass and decent enough vision; he just doesn't want to; he gets wrapped up in trying to create his own offense which he can do although he's not consistent in finishing. His per36 FGA this year was 17.9 to 3.3 assists per36 (looking at his rate of stats), looking at the entire NBA for qualified players in per36 Kuminga would have tied KD for 25th most FGA in the NBA and out of those who shot more than him per36, only Jaren Jackson Jr had less assists per36 with 2.4, the next lowest was Jalen Green who had 3.8 assists per36.

The most frustrating thing for me watching Kuminga is that there's a damn good player in him, he just needs to quit looking for his shot so much, especially when you're on the floor with an all-time great like Curry. All he has to do is just move the ball and then take his shot when he sees an opening vs trying to create an opening (especially early in the shot clock). Playing the role Kerr wants him to play could really help the Warriors greatly and he'd have a lot of opportunities to score still. I have no doubts that Butler, Green and Kuminga could play together with 2 other shooters on the court with them, I watched it work in Miami with Butler and Bam shooting little to no 3s combined.

I think he is a willing passer, but it's part of the same issue we see in other areas of his game -- he's either slow in processing or does not act decisively/quickly. Whether it's off-ball defense or his drives, opponents appear to react/read the next move before he does.

You'll see him go for his offensive move but he doesn't act quickly enough, so he realizes he is in trouble and wants to pass, but by then the defense knows he needs to pass and JK is stuck taking a low % shot. If he can read the game faster/act more decisively, suddenly his ceiling raises much much higher. But reading/reacting to the game quickly isn't really something that can be taught, you can give people more playing time but there is never any guarantee of that speeding up. Generally the best players you see their high IQ at young ages, but it's possible Kuminga can still do better.

So to me his lack of assists is more about just general IQ/speed of reading the game. I think he would be willing to pass and rack up assists, it's just unclear if he will read the game much more quickly at some point in his career.

He actively decides to go iso when he gets the ball, even with him 25-30 feet away from the basket or there's 12-14 seconds left on the shot clock. Kuminga can pass, can he be a willing passer, sure but he decides early on in the possession if he's going to be that or he's going to ISO and at this point in his career, he's deciding to iso way too often, especially with someone like Curry on the court with him. I think it's going to take being one of the leading scorers on a bad team for 2-3 years before he changes his ways, he's going to have to fail to lead his team to winning multiple years before he really decides to change and that's when he may end up being a high-level NBA player. Basically, he'll have to fail playing his way before he changes, if he ever changes.

[DonaldSanders]

He actively decides to go iso when he gets the ball, even with him 25-30 feet away from the basket or there's 12-14 seconds left on the shot clock. Kuminga can pass, can he be a willing passer, sure but he decides early on in the possession if he's going to be that or he's going to ISO and at this point in his career, he's deciding to iso way too often, especially with someone like Curry on the court with him. I think it's going to take being one of the leading scorers on a bad team for 2-3 years before he changes his ways, he's going to have to fail to lead his team to winning multiple years before he really decides to change and that's when he may end up being a high-level NBA player. Basically, he'll have to fail playing his way before he changes, if he ever changes.

I think we're pretty much in agreement. I was saying he decides to go into iso, isn't quick enough/decisive enough about it and ends up stuck and his passing options get cut off. He's willing to pass but doesn't set up well for passes.

Basically all his processing/decision making has to speed up for him to be an impact player and that is on both ends. The slow iso thing he keeps doing on offense is never going to be the solution. He decides "I'm going to do X" and then doesn't pivot to Y fast enough.

[Crazy-Canuck]

Kuminga processes the game alot like oubre. He knows what he wants to do for himself, but is too slow to read what others are going to do (teammates and defense). It's the same reason why he can be a decent defender on ball (specific match ups) while struggling so bad off the ball.

[Warriors Analyst]

Is he a willing passer? I know I only watched him in the 2nd half of this season and I saw a lot of possessions where he just decided he was taking the shot but on set plays, like where he would come across the lane to get a pass and then zip it over to the corner without really looking, he was able to do that fine. He has the ability to pass and decent enough vision; he just doesn't want to; he gets wrapped up in trying to create his own offense which he can do although he's not consistent in finishing. His per36 FGA this year was 17.9 to 3.3 assists per36 (looking at his rate of stats), looking at the entire NBA for qualified players in per36 Kuminga would have tied KD for 25th most FGA in the NBA and out of those who shot more than him per36, only Jaren Jackson Jr had less assists per36 with 2.4, the next lowest was Jalen Green who had 3.8 assists per36.

The most frustrating thing for me watching Kuminga is that there's a damn good player in him, he just needs to quit looking for his shot so much, especially when you're on the floor with an all-time great like Curry. All he has to do is just move the ball and then take his shot when he sees an opening vs trying to create an opening (especially early in the shot clock). Playing the role Kerr wants him to play could really help the Warriors greatly and he'd have a lot of opportunities to score still. I have no doubts that Butler, Green and Kuminga could play together with 2 other shooters on the court with them, I watched it work in Miami with Butler and Bam shooting little to no 3s combined.

I think he is a willing passer, but it's part of the same issue we see in other areas of his game -- he's either slow in processing or does not act decisively/quickly. Whether it's off-ball defense or his drives, opponents appear to react/read the next move before he does.

You'll see him go for his offensive move but he doesn't act quickly enough, so he realizes he is in trouble and wants to pass, but by then the defense knows he needs to pass and JK is stuck taking a low % shot. If he can read the game faster/act more decisively, suddenly his ceiling raises much much higher. But reading/reacting to the game quickly isn't really something that can be taught, you can give people more playing time but there is never any guarantee of that speeding up. Generally the best players you see their high IQ at young ages, but it's possible Kuminga can still do better.

So to me his lack of assists is more about just general IQ/speed of reading the game. I think he would be willing to pass and rack up assists, it's just unclear if he will read the game much more quickly at some point in his career.

He actively decides to go iso when he gets the ball, even with him 25-30 feet away from the basket or there's 12-14 seconds left on the shot clock. Kuminga can pass, can he be a willing passer, sure but he decides early on in the possession if he's going to be that or he's going to ISO and at this point in his career, he's deciding to iso way too often, especially with someone like Curry on the court with him. I think it's going to take being one of the leading scorers on a bad team for 2-3 years before he changes his ways, he's going to have to fail to lead his team to winning multiple years before he really decides to change and that's when he may end up being a high-level NBA player. Basically, he'll have to fail playing his way before he changes, if he ever changes.

During his rookie season, Kuminga showed a lot of promise passing out of the post. His deliberate decision-making plays way better down there where he can spray to open shooters. Kuminga also shot 67% FG on post-ups as a rookie and boy, was he impressive. You may remember Kuminga as a rookie popping off against the Heat in Miami during the game where Jimmy and UD started going at each other. Kuminga had 22 points on 17 shots and 4-8 FT. As a rookie, he was much more of a bruiser in the post and he used his footwork to walk into pump-fakes and then dunk his way to the hoop. In the following seasons, his post game has mostly been a mediocre Kobe imitation. Kuminga's regression as a post player has been quite disappointing.

[DonaldSanders]

During his rookie season, Kuminga showed a lot of promise passing out of the post. His deliberate decision-making plays way better down there where he can spray to open shooters. Kuminga also shot 67% FG on post-ups as a rookie and boy, was he impressive. You may remember Kuminga as a rookie popping off against the Heat in Miami during the game where Jimmy and UD started going at each other. Kuminga had 22 points on 17 shots and 4-8 FT. As a rookie, he was much more of a bruiser in the post and he used his footwork to walk into pump-fakes and then dunk his way to the hoop. In the following seasons, his post game has mostly been a mediocre Kobe imitation. Kuminga's regression as a post player has been quite disappointing.

Yeah I recently watched a bunch of old Kuminga highlights, and if you watch rookie/year 2 Kuminga, he looks different. Plays bigger, more decisive, and much less back the basket stuff. He's gotten better in other areas and improved overall since then but I feel like he's gone the wrong way with his game, especially last year where his TS% declined sharply.

[Crazy-Canuck]

During his rookie season, Kuminga showed a lot of promise passing out of the post. His deliberate decision-making plays way better down there where he can spray to open shooters. Kuminga also shot 67% FG on post-ups as a rookie and boy, was he impressive. You may remember Kuminga as a rookie popping off against the Heat in Miami during the game where Jimmy and UD started going at each other. Kuminga had 22 points on 17 shots and 4-8 FT. As a rookie, he was much more of a bruiser in the post and he used his footwork to walk into pump-fakes and then dunk his way to the hoop. In the following seasons, his post game has mostly been a mediocre Kobe imitation. Kuminga's regression as a post player has been quite disappointing.

Yeah I recently watched a bunch of old Kuminga highlights, and if you watch rookie/year 2 Kuminga, he looks different. Plays bigger, more decisive, and much less back the basket stuff. He's gotten better in other areas and improved overall since then but I feel like he's gone the wrong way with his game, especially last year where his TS% declined sharply.

I still believe the people around him have been steering him wrong. He could have really fit the Marion role with a bit more iso game if he had his heart in it. But along the way, it was decided that being kobe was the bigger pay day.

[AirP.]

I think he is a willing passer, but it's part of the same issue we see in other areas of his game -- he's either slow in processing or does not act decisively/quickly. Whether it's off-ball defense or his drives, opponents appear to react/read the next move before he does.

You'll see him go for his offensive move but he doesn't act quickly enough, so he realizes he is in trouble and wants to pass, but by then the defense knows he needs to pass and JK is stuck taking a low % shot. If he can read the game faster/act more decisively, suddenly his ceiling raises much much higher. But reading/reacting to the game quickly isn't really something that can be taught, you can give people more playing time but there is never any guarantee of that speeding up. Generally the best players you see their high IQ at young ages, but it's possible Kuminga can still do better.

So to me his lack of assists is more about just general IQ/speed of reading the game. I think he would be willing to pass and rack up assists, it's just unclear if he will read the game much more quickly at some point in his career.

He actively decides to go iso when he gets the ball, even with him 25-30 feet away from the basket or there's 12-14 seconds left on the shot clock. Kuminga can pass, can he be a willing passer, sure but he decides early on in the possession if he's going to be that or he's going to ISO and at this point in his career, he's deciding to iso way too often, especially with someone like Curry on the court with him. I think it's going to take being one of the leading scorers on a bad team for 2-3 years before he changes his ways, he's going to have to fail to lead his team to winning multiple years before he really decides to change and that's when he may end up being a high-level NBA player. Basically, he'll have to fail playing his way before he changes, if he ever changes.

During his rookie season, Kuminga showed a lot of promise passing out of the post. His deliberate decision-making plays way better down there where he can spray to open shooters. Kuminga also shot 67% FG on post-ups as a rookie and boy, was he impressive. You may remember Kuminga as a rookie popping off against the Heat in Miami during the game where Jimmy and UD started going at each other. Kuminga had 22 points on 17 shots and 4-8 FT. As a rookie, he was much more of a bruiser in the post and he used his footwork to walk into pump-fakes and then dunk his way to the hoop. In the following seasons, his post game has mostly been a mediocre Kobe imitation. Kuminga's regression as a post player has been quite disappointing.

As a rookie I'm sure he was more malleable as a player looking to get time, that didn't seem the case in the half season I saw him when he knew his team was desperately needing to climb up in the standings. It wasn't just his play but the situation where he decided to do that type of play.

The Butler UD issue was Butler and Spoelstra having issues about the call not being for Butler, it seemed Butler said Spoelstra was disrespecting him and it got heated and then Spoelstra said you want to fight me and that's when UD jumped in for his coach, Butler seemed surprised Spoelstra got so upset. It's interesting how Spoelstra would let Butler make the call/play sometimes and then other times not at all. It was a very odd situation but Spoelstra was not in the mood to discuss the play and even when it looked over Spoelstra went onto the court to get in Butler's face. I still want to know what happened and what was said 5-10 seconds before the video started.

[EvanZ]

I don't have the stats to back this up but my feeling watching games is that Kuminga only "willingly" passes to Steph. What bugs me is how often he looks off or simply doesn't pay attention to anyone else. I feel like so many times Moody is open and JK never ever finds him. The whole advantage of a guy who can drive to the basket is that you draw defenders and kick it back out for open looks, but if defenders know JK isn't going to kick it back out, then there's really no advantage created.

[Twinkie defense]

Kuminga also seems pretty uncomfortable getting his shot off around the rim if he doesn't have a clear lane and a running start. He's not taking it right at defenders like you think he could with his size, strength, and athleticism.

[Crazy-Canuck]

I don't have the stats to back this up but my feeling watching games is that Kuminga only "willingly" passes to Steph. What bugs me is how often he looks off or simply doesn't pay attention to anyone else. I feel like so many times Moody is open and JK never ever finds him. The whole advantage of a guy who can drive to the basket is that you draw defenders and kick it back out for open looks, but if defenders know JK isn't going to kick it back out, then there's really no advantage created.

He does make most of his passes to steph at about 4 per game. Dray 2nd and podz 3rd.

Imo, might be a alot of bailout situations though. Steph has some poor shooting percentages off of kuminga passes.

48% from 2 and 31% from 3.

[EvanZ]

Kuminga also seems pretty uncomfortable getting his shot off around the rim if he doesn't have a clear lane and a running start. He's not taking it right at defenders like you think he could with his size, strength, and athleticism.

He has small hands and a shaky handle probably as a result. I think it's also part of his problem with rebounding.

[watch1958]

Kuminga also seems pretty uncomfortable getting his shot off around the rim if he doesn't have a clear lane and a running start. He's not taking it right at defenders like you think he could with his size, strength, and athleticism.

He has small hands and a shaky handle probably as a result. I think it's also part of his problem with rebounding.

It would also explain why he doesn’t cut without the ball enough. He’s not confident that he can handle the pass in motion.

[Warriors Analyst]

He actively decides to go iso when he gets the ball, even with him 25-30 feet away from the basket or there's 12-14 seconds left on the shot clock. Kuminga can pass, can he be a willing passer, sure but he decides early on in the possession if he's going to be that or he's going to ISO and at this point in his career, he's deciding to iso way too often, especially with someone like Curry on the court with him. I think it's going to take being one of the leading scorers on a bad team for 2-3 years before he changes his ways, he's going to have to fail to lead his team to winning multiple years before he really decides to change and that's when he may end up being a high-level NBA player. Basically, he'll have to fail playing his way before he changes, if he ever changes.

During his rookie season, Kuminga showed a lot of promise passing out of the post. His deliberate decision-making plays way better down there where he can spray to open shooters. Kuminga also shot 67% FG on post-ups as a rookie and boy, was he impressive. You may remember Kuminga as a rookie popping off against the Heat in Miami during the game where Jimmy and UD started going at each other. Kuminga had 22 points on 17 shots and 4-8 FT. As a rookie, he was much more of a bruiser in the post and he used his footwork to walk into pump-fakes and then dunk his way to the hoop. In the following seasons, his post game has mostly been a mediocre Kobe imitation. Kuminga's regression as a post player has been quite disappointing.

As a rookie I'm sure he was more malleable as a player looking to get time, that didn't seem the case in the half season I saw him when he knew his team was desperately needing to climb up in the standings. It wasn't just his play but the situation where he decided to do that type of play.

The Butler UD issue was Butler and Spoelstra having issues about the call not being for Butler, it seemed Butler said Spoelstra was disrespecting him and it got heated and then Spoelstra said you want to fight me and that's when UD jumped in for his coach, Butler seemed surprised Spoelstra got so upset. It's interesting how Spoelstra would let Butler make the call/play sometimes and then other times not at all. It was a very odd situation but Spoelstra was not in the mood to discuss the play and even when it looked over Spoelstra went onto the court to get in Butler's face. I still want to know what happened and what was said 5-10 seconds before the video started.

His effort level from game to game was definitely more consistent as a rookie. I generally agree with your assessment of the version of Kuminga you've seen in the half-season since following the Warriors.

[playa-hater]

Excuse me for invading your Forum. Boston fan here who lives in Miami. But for what it's worth, here goes. I walked into a BB training facility near me last weekend during closed hours (I know the owner) and low and behold, who was there?? Johnathan Kuminga and about 6 of his so called trainers. JK was working out for Scott Perry (Sacramento GM) who was in attendance. What I saw was some of the poorest body language I have ever seen of a player on that level. And on that day at least, Kuminga was shooting like crap. If there was some critics about Kuminga's shooting and/or work ethic, it wasn't helped that day. And it looked like he could care less.

Take what I said with a grain of salt because I was only watching for about 20 minutes.

[whatisacenter]

Excuse me for invading your Forum. Boston fan here who lives in Miami. But for what it's worth, here goes. I walked into a BB training facility near me last weekend during closed hours (I know the owner) and low and behold, who was there?? Johnathan Kuminga and about 6 of his so called trainers. JK was working out for Scott Perry (Sacramento GM) who was in attendance. What I saw was some of the poorest body language I have ever seen of a player on that level. And on that day at least, Kuminga was shooting like crap. If there was some critics about Kuminga's shooting and/or work ethic, it wasn't helped that day. And it looked like he could care less.

Take what I said with a grain of salt because I was only watching for about 20 minutes.

You just made a lot of JK playa hater fans.

[hamncheese]

^So, the message is, "I don't want go to the Kings."

[statsman]

^So, the message is, "I don't want go to the Kings."

That, or he was trying hard to impress the Kings to up their S&T offer. Looks like he may have failed, if the eyewitness report is any indication. Or maybe the Kings' GM sees something else.

[bay2hk]

Excuse me for invading your Forum. Boston fan here who lives in Miami. But for what it's worth, here goes. I walked into a BB training facility near me last weekend during closed hours (I know the owner) and low and behold, who was there?? Johnathan Kuminga and about 6 of his so called trainers. JK was working out for Scott Perry (Sacramento GM) who was in attendance. What I saw was some of the poorest body language I have ever seen of a player on that level. And on that day at least, Kuminga was shooting like crap. If there was some critics about Kuminga's shooting and/or work ethic, it wasn't helped that day. And it looked like he could care less.

Take what I said with a grain of salt because I was only watching for about 20 minutes.

Wow, thanks for the info. This confirms JK’s character and professionalism. He wants to get paid without doing any work. Dude is lazy and warriors should stand pat on their 1+1 with TO offer.

[EvanZ]

Excuse me for invading your Forum. Boston fan here who lives in Miami. But for what it's worth, here goes. I walked into a BB training facility near me last weekend during closed hours (I know the owner) and low and behold, who was there?? Johnathan Kuminga and about 6 of his so called trainers. JK was working out for Scott Perry (Sacramento GM) who was in attendance. What I saw was some of the poorest body language I have ever seen of a player on that level. And on that day at least, Kuminga was shooting like crap. If there was some critics about Kuminga's shooting and/or work ethic, it wasn't helped that day. And it looked like he could care less.

Take what I said with a grain of salt because I was only watching for about 20 minutes.

LMAO playa-hater appears to be an accurate moniker.

[playa-hater]

Excuse me for invading your Forum. Boston fan here who lives in Miami. But for what it's worth, here goes. I walked into a BB training facility near me last weekend during closed hours (I know the owner) and low and behold, who was there?? Johnathan Kuminga and about 6 of his so called trainers. JK was working out for Scott Perry (Sacramento GM) who was in attendance. What I saw was some of the poorest body language I have ever seen of a player on that level. And on that day at least, Kuminga was shooting like crap. If there was some critics about Kuminga's shooting and/or work ethic, it wasn't helped that day. And it looked like he could care less.

Take what I said with a grain of salt because I was only watching for about 20 minutes.

LMAO playa-hater appears to be an accurate moniker.

Well, if you ask my fanbase, they'll tell you. I'm more of a coach hater than play a hater..