Warriors select Jonathan Kuminga with the 7th pick of the 2021 NBA Draft

[Scoots1994]

I don't think rookies should be put anywhere, positive or negative ... I think if they earn the minutes they should get them. They should get a little push forward in practice but if you push too hard in games it can crater their confidence. Look at Poole.

That said, I really think Poole, Wiseman, Nico, Moody, and Kuminga can all play reasonably significant roles in the regular season this year, and hopefully be able to step up for the playoffs.

It's important not just for them, but also to allow the vets to get more rest while still winning games.

Poole had to play with a depleted squad.. using him as an excuse to slow down rookies is no better than using Wiseman

The rookies are talented and should play, and then adjustments should be made. There's no point in holding back a talent for posterity or aesthetics.. both Moody and Kuminga should get minutes out the gate and that should be adjusted as we go. The Wiseman plan was fine, the problem was that we had no alternatives (Chriss hurt, Smiley terrible) and he had no camp, plus he kept getting injured as the light bulb started to flicker

Not an excuse, just saying that it's important that rookies be put in places to succeed to nurture their confidence.

How you think I was arguing to slow down rookies is bizarre since I literally said I thought they could play significant roles.

[FNQ]

I don't think rookies should be put anywhere, positive or negative ... I think if they earn the minutes they should get them. They should get a little push forward in practice but if you push too hard in games it can crater their confidence. Look at Poole.

That said, I really think Poole, Wiseman, Nico, Moody, and Kuminga can all play reasonably significant roles in the regular season this year, and hopefully be able to step up for the playoffs.

It's important not just for them, but also to allow the vets to get more rest while still winning games.

Poole had to play with a depleted squad.. using him as an excuse to slow down rookies is no better than using Wiseman

The rookies are talented and should play, and then adjustments should be made. There's no point in holding back a talent for posterity or aesthetics.. both Moody and Kuminga should get minutes out the gate and that should be adjusted as we go. The Wiseman plan was fine, the problem was that we had no alternatives (Chriss hurt, Smiley terrible) and he had no camp, plus he kept getting injured as the light bulb started to flicker

Not an excuse, just saying that it's important that rookies be put in places to succeed to nurture their confidence.

How you think I was arguing to slow down rookies is bizarre since I literally said I thought they could play significant roles.

I'd argue that comping their situation to one that was entirely different in Poole to make an ineffective point was bizarre, tbh

[Scoots1994]

Poole had to play with a depleted squad.. using him as an excuse to slow down rookies is no better than using Wiseman

The rookies are talented and should play, and then adjustments should be made. There's no point in holding back a talent for posterity or aesthetics.. both Moody and Kuminga should get minutes out the gate and that should be adjusted as we go. The Wiseman plan was fine, the problem was that we had no alternatives (Chriss hurt, Smiley terrible) and he had no camp, plus he kept getting injured as the light bulb started to flicker

Not an excuse, just saying that it's important that rookies be put in places to succeed to nurture their confidence.

How you think I was arguing to slow down rookies is bizarre since I literally said I thought they could play significant roles.

I'd argue that comping their situation to one that was entirely different in Poole to make an ineffective point was bizarre, tbh

I wasn't "comping their situation", I was saying that Poole lost confidence and his game fell apart. Nothing more.

[Phase 3]

Alpha male.

[thunderdunk]

Honestly I would tell both Wiseman and Kuminga don't take any shots outside of 5-8 feet. For now. Obviously, practice them, I'm not saying never take jumpers again. But those guys shooting from anywhere not near the basket is just a possession-killing act of greed. We have WAY better ways to get points on this team. I want both of them to be aggressive working with the ball close to the rim and being in good rebounding position. This shouldn't be a problem for Kuminga, he's already pretty good at it and it's a way he can make contributions immediately. For Wiseman it's essential he learns to deal with the physicality of the league.

Totally agree. Yesterday's game confirmed to me that Kuminga can't shoot. Right now, he might make a corner 3 occasionally, but opponents will be begging him to take that shot -- and any shot from outside about 12 feet. For now it looks like he should pattern his game as a Ben Simmons type until he proves that he can shoot from outside consistently in practice. He has the athleticism to drive to the hoop -- he should use it. Even then, teams will foul him until he proves that he can make 75% of his free throws.

[Scoots1994]

Honestly I would tell both Wiseman and Kuminga don't take any shots outside of 5-8 feet. For now. Obviously, practice them, I'm not saying never take jumpers again. But those guys shooting from anywhere not near the basket is just a possession-killing act of greed. We have WAY better ways to get points on this team. I want both of them to be aggressive working with the ball close to the rim and being in good rebounding position. This shouldn't be a problem for Kuminga, he's already pretty good at it and it's a way he can make contributions immediately. For Wiseman it's essential he learns to deal with the physicality of the league.

Totally agree. Yesterday's game confirmed to me that Kuminga can't shoot. Right now, he might make a corner 3 occasionally, but opponents will be begging him to take that shot -- and any shot from outside about 12 feet. For now it looks like he should pattern his game as a Ben Simmons type until he proves that he can shoot from outside consistently in practice. He has the athleticism to drive to the hoop -- he should use it. Even then, teams will foul him until he proves that he can make 75% of his free throws.

He absolutely CAN shoot. His problem is much more shot selection being ... well ... totally lacking.

[thunderdunk]

Nope. Look at his shooting percentages from last year, and especially look at his FT %. He can't shoot. And don't count on anybody in the NBA leaving him wide open for jumpers either. He can drive the lane, make putbacks, and dunk on fast breaks. For now, that's the reality.

[Quazza]

So media have picked up on "Kum Buckets"

This is why we can't have nice things

[and1GS]

I didn't realize we had a game, ugh.

How bad does his 3 look? In the first game I saw, his release seemed a bit...off? Like he may have an overly strong wrist flick. IDK I'm not a shot doctor.

Loved the 'gimmie that ****' on the block LOL.

[Coxy]

If Kuminga is bullying his way to the rim at 18 years old, with 2-3 full seasons, and pre-seasons, under his belt, I can see him being an all-star level player.

[KevinMcreynolds]

I didn't realize we had a game, ugh.

How bad does his 3 look? In the first game I saw, his release seemed a bit...off? Like he may have an overly strong wrist flick. IDK I'm not a shot doctor.

Loved the 'gimmie that ****' on the block LOL.

the problem seemed to be more the quality of the 3's he was taking than his actual form, he was chuckin

[and1GS]

So media have picked up on "Kum Buckets"

This is why we can't have nice things

Well that's not something I'm going to Google on my work laptop

[GunnerWRX]

I didn't realize we had a game, ugh.

How bad does his 3 look? In the first game I saw, his release seemed a bit...off? Like he may have an overly strong wrist flick. IDK I'm not a shot doctor.

Loved the 'gimmie that ****' on the block LOL.

His form seems fine, but he doesn't look like someone who can hit his FT and 3P consistently at this point.

His drives are great, except that his passes out of his drives are quite erratic. He has various ways to finish even though it looks awkward at times. The developmental staff has some work to do.

I like his activity level on defense. Multiple deflections and outright steals. With some seasoning under Andre and Klay on the individual defense tricks, and understanding of defending in a unit, I can see him being a big plus on defense.

Overall I like him a lot. He is raw but he has good tendencies. E.g. his decision making and passing needs to be ironed out for sure, but you cannot teach a blackhole to pass, and he is not a blackhole for sure.

[FNQ]

So media have picked up on "Kum Buckets"

This is why we can't have nice things

TBF, thats twitter and twitter was calling him that in the draft process as well

I kinda liked Lord Kumungus, even if its a bit heavy. One guy at work is calling him Kumelo Anthony, and I gotta admit, its kinda sticking with me. Just the first name though, whole name sounds too proper

[Old_Blue]

So media have picked up on "Kum Buckets"

This is why we can't have nice things

Well that's not something I'm going to Google on my work laptop

Brings a whole new meaning to the term NSFW...Not Safe For Warriors? Actually, that's my new nickname for Kuminga...NSFW!

[oaktownwarriors87]

Watching Sengun makes me really sad that we didn't snag him. I have no idea how he wasn't a top 10 pick.

[FNQ]

So media have picked up on "Kum Buckets"

This is why we can't have nice things

Well that's not something I'm going to Google on my work laptop

Brings a whole new meaning to the term NSFW...Not Safe For Warriors? Actually, that's my new nickname for Kuminga...NSFW!

I dont hate that one either

[vvoland]

I didn't realize we had a game, ugh.

How bad does his 3 look? In the first game I saw, his release seemed a bit...off? Like he may have an overly strong wrist flick. IDK I'm not a shot doctor.

Loved the 'gimmie that ****' on the block LOL.

the problem seemed to be more the quality of the 3's he was taking than his actual form, he was chuckin

Shot selection is a problem but in looking at his 3pta and fta, his wrist and elbow look ok but his shot is all upper body and his base is inconsistent.

One thing Id look for is if his flat footed his ft stay that way. His misses are all flat footed and on makes he gets lower and then extends to his toes. That plagues a lot of young players and seems like an easy fix.

The jumper, similarly, has very little lower body - he barely jumps. Kind of like an anti paschall. That might be a harder fix but he can probably hit corner threes now.

That said, the play of the game for kuminga was the late game block, push up court, spin move on cole Anthony and the pass to moody while avoiding the charge from suggs. Not many people at 6-8 can do that. Not sure how many other than kd/lebron could do it at 18

[floppymoose]

I actually thought he was open on his 3s. Given his %'s, it wasn't the right shot to take. But the ones I saw weren't off balance or strongly contested. I did fall asleep for part of the game though so maybe I missed what you are talking about.

[Xplatformer]

He's raw...but very good for 18. At 21, if he can develop skills and play within himself...he'll be scary.

He's 6'8" with soccer/football feet. Me like.