NBA Executive Weighs In On Jonathan Kuminga’s “Sky-High” Potential

Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors, NBA
NBA Analysis Network
Jonathan Kuminga
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Executive Weighs In On Jonathan Kuminga

Last season, Golden State drafted James Wiseman, 19-years-old at the time, second overall and while they are a team that wants to contend for more titles right now, this move to draft Jonathan Kuminga did not come as too much of a shock to those around the league.

He was the best talent available at this position and given the fact that they just drafted a high-potential, athletic big man last year, it just made a lot of sense for the Golden State Warriors to now draft Jonathan Kuminga for the future.

In time, the young forward has a chance to become a key two-way player for the Warriors at either forward position, but what does the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft bring to the table for a team looking to not only make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2019 but make it back to the NBA Finals as well?

Being a very raw and extremely young prospect, Jonathan Kuminga is not going to have the same impact as other top-tier rookies from his draft class in Cade Cunningham (Pistons), Jalen Green (Rockets), Evan Mobley (Cavaliers), and others, but he is already impressing not just those around the league, but those within the Warriors organization. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Last-Minute Ben Simmons Trades We’d Like To See

One league executive talked with NBA Analysis Network at length about the Warriors’ rookie and what he could bring to the table during the 2021-22 season, especially after a very strong showing in Las Vegas Summer League this offseason. 

“Kuminga is a freak athlete and when you see him in person, it is just unreal, especially when you think about the fact that he is still a kid,” the executive stated. “Playing with the G-League Ignite has definitely aided his growth at a young age, but it is going to take some time for him to adapt to the NBA lifestyle at 18-years-old.”

When you look at how the Warriors’ roster is constructed heading into training camp this year, they do have Andrew Wiggins on the wing, as well as veterans in Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr., so the 18-year-old rookie truly is in the best position where he can take his time developing into a finished product. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: 3 Last-Minute Ben Simmons Trades We’d Like To See

“The best quality about him [Jonathan Kuminga] is the fact he is willing to and wanting to learn about everything, both on and off-the-court at the NBA-level,” the league executive went on to say about the Warriors’ rookie. “In time, when he puts these things together, we are talking about a young player who is super-athletic and super-skilled with the ball that can make an impact in many different ways and his potential is sky-high, but it is going to take time for him to learn the game.” 

The 2021-22 season is going to be a big learning year for not only Jonathan Kuminga on the Warriors’ roster, but fellow rookie Moses Moody as well, who was drafted 14th overall by the Warriors this year. These two guys offer a lot of potential for Golden State as the years go on and having three All-Star, Hall-of-Fame type of players in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to mentor them puts them both in great positions to succeed in time. 

Golden State Warriors Face Massive Stephen Curry Injury Update

Following an MRI that showed no structural damage to his right ankle, Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is anticipated to have a brief absence

Major Projections Emerge For Klay Thompson’s Next Contract

One of the players many people are going to be keeping a close eye on during the 2024 NBA offseason is Klay Thompson. The future

Warriors Bracing For Stephen Curry To Miss Time With Ankle Injury

The NBA can be cruel sometimes when it comes to injuries. Before this week, the Golden State Warriors hadn’t had their full rotation healthy and