After missing 31 consecutive games, Jonathan Kuminga is set to make his long-awaited return to the Warriors this Thursday against Sacramento. The forward has been participating in scrimmages over the past few weeks and will be stepping back onto the court for the first time since injuring his right ankle on January 4.
Before his injury, Kuminga was enjoying the best stretch of his career, averaging 20.5 points over his last 14 games, including four outings in which he scored 20 or more points, with two of those performances reaching 34 points.
Even though Kuminga is now healthy, Warriors coach Steve Kerr emphasized a cautious approach to his reintegration, indicating that he will come off the bench against the Kings. Kerr noted the challenges of reinserting a key player into a lineup that has thrived, winning 12 out of 14 games since Jimmy Butler joined the team.
“It’s tricky when you’re playing well and a significant player is returning,” Kerr acknowledged regarding the measured approach. “We want to bring him back gradually, playing him in short bursts to help him regain his rhythm. At the same time, we need to keep utilizing Gui Santos and the guys who are currently contributing to our success. These situations usually take time, and we hope it unfolds smoothly.”
Looking ahead, the 22-year-old Kuminga is expected to become a restricted free agent this offseason. However, his teammate Draymond Green reassured him that he shouldn’t stress too much about it given his previous performance on the court. “You can’t expect to regain everything in just one day, especially with a contract situation looming,” Green stated.
“Naturally, there’s a tendency to push yourself because you want to succeed. I’ve faced contract situations before, and it can be incredibly challenging to navigate. You have to avoid driving yourself crazy with the pressure to make everything happen right away.”
The four-time champion urges Kuminga to focus on the team rather than individual achievements. “He needs to give himself some grace as he works back into the flow,” Green advised. “It’s important to build back gradually and perform well. We’re gearing up for a successful stretch, and he’ll have ample opportunity to showcase the player we all know he is.”
