ATLANTA — Jonathan Kuminga’s return game against the Golden State Warriors did not live up to the hype.
After the 23-year-old forward was traded to the Atlanta Hawks just before last month’s deadline, many fans circled Saturday’s game. But neither Kuminga nor the undermanned Warriors made it a memorable occasion. Kuminga scored just two points on 1-for-9 shooting in 22 minutes as the Hawks rolled past the Warriors 126-110 at State Farm Arena.
Kuminga, traded with veteran Buddy Hield to the Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porziņģis, who did not play because of lower back soreness, caught up with former teammates and Warriors staffers after the game.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr reiterated before the game that he still maintains a good relationship with Kuminga. It was the basketball part of their professional relationship where they couldn’t always find common ground.
“I like Jonathan. We always got along well,” Kerr said. “The basketball part was the hard part. We couldn’t quite offer him what he needed and vice versa. We were a championship team — he needed really a lot of freedom and 35 minutes to make mistakes and grow and learn because he came in with very little experience, and we just couldn’t offer him that — bottom line.”
As Kerr has pointed out several times, Kuminga came into a team that was trying to defend a title after his rookie year — he wasn’t afforded the opportunity to learn and grow in a setting where he could make the kind of mistakes that all young players make.
“So, we offered him what we could,” Kerr said. “Which was 25 minutes and a role that he didn’t love. And it was never comfortable for either party on the basketball floor … we had our share of conversations about basketball that we had our differences, but on a personal level, we all root for him here. Well-liked in our locker room. And I’m sure the guys are looking forward to seeing him.”
Hawks coach Quin Snyder said before the game that Kuminga has tried to fit in well with his new team and hit on the same note Kerr referred to many times when describing what he would like to see from Kuminga on a consistent basis.
“We’ve asked him to do what we want all our guys to do,” Snyder said. “Defend and run.”
Kerr had to chuckle when asked if there was any more emotion involved in this game, given that Kuminga, the No. 7 overall pick by the Warriors in the 2021 draft, played almost five seasons for the organization.
“This is common in the NBA,” Kerr said. “Kristaps has gone through this literally on every stop of this road trip, so it’s all part of the league. I saw Buddy today at the hotel. I had a great chat with him. He’s one of the greatest guys ever. Just such an amazing teammate and a guy to coach, and so beloved in our locker room. I haven’t seen JK yet, but I look forward to seeing him out there.
“It’s a weird business — you get to know people, and there’s so much at stake. People come and go, and you build personal relationships with them, and sometimes, the basketball part works out. Sometimes, it doesn’t, and you hope the relationships are able to withstand all that tumult that comes with this business.”
If Kuminga’s interactions with his former teammates after the game are any indication, those relationships will withstand no matter what happens in the future. Kuminga went up and down the Warriors’ roster, hugging a variety of personnel, including Draymond Green, having an extended conversation with Warriors’ star Stephen Curry and even mixing in a quick hug with Kerr.