There’s nothing quite like the National Basketball Association off-season, with many franchises retooling and strengthening their rosters, rookies getting a chance to prove themselves in the NBA Summer League, and role players and veterans having the opportunity to sign with new teams or re-sign deals based on last season’s production.
One person in particular who had a summer-long stalemate with their front office is Golden State Warriors power forward Jonathan Kuminga. The fifth-year star was in a month-long tug-of-war revolving around a serious contract conversation about his future in the Bay Area. This agonizing situation for Golden State restricted them in the flexibility they would have during the off-season, having to wait longer than they would’ve liked to sign players like veteran NBA center Al Horford, who verbally agreed to be a Warrior but could not officially sign until the fiasco with Kuminga was sorted out.
The drama ended on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, with Kuminga signing a two-year, $46.8 million contract. With the obstacle behind them, Kuminga and the organization could focus on the preseason and the 2025–26 season.
What Did Draymond Green Say About Jonathan Kuminga’s Late-Game Heroics In the Season Opener?
There is no better way to make up for off-season drama than to impact your team’s season-opening game immediately. Last night, Kuminga did just that. With over a minute left in the fourth quarter, Kuminga gathered an offensive rebound over Lakers’ big men Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura after the Lakers missed a three-point attempt.
Kuminga’s vital rebound allowed Steph Curry to knock down a long-range shot at the other end of the floor, which sealed the game for the Warriors, ending in a 10-point win: GSW 119, LAL 109. Kuminga finished with an opening-night stat line of 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
During the postgame press conference, veteran Warriors power forward Draymond Green took a moment to say how important that defensive rebound from Kuminga really was. “That rebound is what everyone in the world’s been waiting to see… got superstar potential. You go make big plays… He’s been very vocal about his opportunity, and he delivered.”
This praise of Kuminga comes from a player who has built a staple career by being a pest on the defensive end, employing what seems to be every trick in the book to irritate opposing players and give Golden State the edge over the years.
Kuminga’s game has blossomed over the past four seasons since he was selected in the first round with the seventh overall pick in 2021. Today, he is known for his crafty ability to create space off the dribble, fight through defenses to get to the basket and score, and use his size to be a problem for opposing teams once he finds an offensive rhythm.
He helped the Warriors win their last NBA championship in 2022 and has experienced stretches where he played significant minutes and others where he wasn’t as fortunate to see the court. This inconsistency was one of the main reasons for the contract negotiations being held up. Kuminga wanted a more defined role on the team and felt that the value he brings to both ends needed to be reflected in his new salary.
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With the Golden State Warriors securing their first win of the season, Kuminga will look to build on this positive night to further solidify to the Warriors’ front office and head coach Steve Kerr that he is a valuable asset to the team, especially as defensive anchors like Draymond Green approach the latter stages of their careers. Stringing together this kind of consistency on a nightly basis for Kuminga will signal that he is ready to be part of the next wave of Golden State greats. However, only time will tell that.
