Kuminga Sends Message in Hawks Debut as Warriors Lose

The Golden State Warriors could have used Jonathan Kuminga on Wednesday night.

Instead, the former Warriors lottery pick delivered a debut for the ages in Atlanta — while Golden State absorbed a frustrating loss to one of the NBA’s worst teams.

On the same night the Warriors fell 113–109 to the New Orleans Pelicans without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis, Kuminga announced himself as a centerpiece in his new home with the Atlanta Hawks.

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Kuminga Makes Hawks History in First Game

Kuminga erupted for a season-high 27 points in just 24 minutes off the bench, leading all scorers as Atlanta routed the Washington Wizards 119–98.

In the process, Kuminga made history — becoming the first player in Hawks franchise history to score 25 or more points in fewer than 30 minutes in his team debut.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” Kuminga said afterward. “I’m just excited to get out there, get this dub, as many wins as we can collect. That’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter who went crazy or who didn’t as long as we play for each other and get that dub.”

Kuminga shot 9-of-12 from the field, drilled 3-of-4 from three, and went 6-of-7 at the free-throw line, adding seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals in a complete two-way performance.

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Fresh Start After Frustration in Golden State

The breakout came after months of frustration in Golden State, where Kuminga sought a trade, believing his growth was constrained under head coach Steve Kerr.

In Atlanta, Kuminga immediately found a faster pace and expanded freedom — a stylistic fit that suits his downhill athleticism and transition game.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder praised Kuminga’s approach while urging patience.

“I thought he was really focused, and I know he’s been hungry to play,” Snyder said. “I think he’s excited to contribute to this team.”

Snyder emphasized that the most important part of Kuminga’s debut was not the stat line, but his discipline.

“I don’t want to put him in a position where expectations suddenly become unrealistic,” Snyder said. “He’s obviously a talented player, but the important thing for him is to do what he did tonight — let the game come to him.”

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Warriors Fall Short Despite Late Push

While Kuminga thrived, the Warriors struggled to finish a comeback against a Pelicans team near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

Golden State committed 21 turnovers, which New Orleans converted into 18 points, a margin that proved decisive.

“With the injuries we have, we have to play well to win,” Kerr told reporters. “I don’t think we played well tonight.”

De’Anthony Melton led Golden State with 28 points, while Moses Moody added 24, but the Warriors could not overcome their mistakes or their depleted lineup.

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Porziņģis Progressing, But Still Sidelined

Before the game, Kerr expressed cautious optimism about Porziņģis, who has appeared in just one game since arriving via trade.

“He’s getting better,” Kerr said. “He’s just been really sick, but making some improvements. It’s just an illness.”

Still, with key veterans missing and rotations in flux, Golden State’s margin for error remains thin.

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A Stark Contrast on the Same Night

For Warriors fans, the contrast was hard to miss.

As Golden State searched for offense, athleticism, and creation against a struggling opponent, Kuminga was delivering exactly that — elsewhere — in a performance that validated Atlanta’s belief in him.

For Kuminga, the night marked a fresh beginning.

For the Warriors, it served as another reminder of how costly injuries — and timing — can be in a season defined by adaptation and missed opportunities.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo