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One of the given reasons for the slow disappearance of Jonathan Kuminga from the Warriors rotation since the acquisition of star forward Jimmy Butler in February has been the fact that Butler and Kuminga just don't seem to fit together.
Butler is not a deep threat, and neither is Kuminga. With both on the floor, especially with Draymond Green also in the game, the Warriors' offense lacks space, as defenses, not respecting the perimeter shots, can collapse into the paint.
As coach Steve Kerr admitted in April, "The lineup with Jimmy, Jonathan and Draymond doesn’t fit real well, frankly. It just doesn’t. We need more spacing.".
On Saturday in Game 3 between the Warriors and Timberwolves, though, both Kuminga and Butler were able to get going, as Kuminga was forced back into the rotation thanks to the absence of Stephen Curry, who is out with a hamstring injury.
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) and guard Gary Payton II (0) warm up before game three of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Kuminga racked up 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting off the bench. Butler, meanwhile, totaled 33 points on 12-for-26 shooting. After the game, Kuminga said he never bought into the notion that he could not play alongside Butler.
"I think I did okay, just being around him, just playing off of him, and just knowing what he wants and just talking about to him more," Kuminga said. "I've been watching how everyone moves around him and how everyone is playing around him, and you know, it was just a matter of time of me just going out there. I think it's the most I ever played with Jimmy.
"So, you know, we are all basketball players. You know, you learn as you watch. I feel like it's me watching and learning every other day, it makes sense playing around him. It's kind of actually easy. It's just the same way as Steph in a different way. You've got another player with Steph and another player with Jimmy. They are two different people, but they attract so much attention that you've just got to be alert when they've got the ball."
Of course, it could be argued that the success of Kuminga and Butler did not translate to a win for the Warriors, that the offense only produced 97 points and was gassed at the end of the game. But Kuminga seems to relish the chance to show he can score alongside Butler.
With Curry out again for Monday's Game 4, he will need to do so.
Continue reading...
Butler is not a deep threat, and neither is Kuminga. With both on the floor, especially with Draymond Green also in the game, the Warriors' offense lacks space, as defenses, not respecting the perimeter shots, can collapse into the paint.
As coach Steve Kerr admitted in April, "The lineup with Jimmy, Jonathan and Draymond doesn’t fit real well, frankly. It just doesn’t. We need more spacing.".
On Saturday in Game 3 between the Warriors and Timberwolves, though, both Kuminga and Butler were able to get going, as Kuminga was forced back into the rotation thanks to the absence of Stephen Curry, who is out with a hamstring injury.
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Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) and guard Gary Payton II (0) warm up before game three of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Kuminga racked up 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting off the bench. Butler, meanwhile, totaled 33 points on 12-for-26 shooting. After the game, Kuminga said he never bought into the notion that he could not play alongside Butler.
"I think I did okay, just being around him, just playing off of him, and just knowing what he wants and just talking about to him more," Kuminga said. "I've been watching how everyone moves around him and how everyone is playing around him, and you know, it was just a matter of time of me just going out there. I think it's the most I ever played with Jimmy.
"So, you know, we are all basketball players. You know, you learn as you watch. I feel like it's me watching and learning every other day, it makes sense playing around him. It's kind of actually easy. It's just the same way as Steph in a different way. You've got another player with Steph and another player with Jimmy. They are two different people, but they attract so much attention that you've just got to be alert when they've got the ball."
Of course, it could be argued that the success of Kuminga and Butler did not translate to a win for the Warriors, that the offense only produced 97 points and was gassed at the end of the game. But Kuminga seems to relish the chance to show he can score alongside Butler.
With Curry out again for Monday's Game 4, he will need to do so.
Continue reading...
