Angle Fantasy Basketball

The Meteoric rise of Jonathan Kuminga may come as a surprise to many dynasty pundits and community members alike. To provide perspective, the Golden State Warriors have sought their next star to smooth the transition past the Big 3 Curry, Thompson, and Draymond era. Starting with the promising creative shot-maker Jordan Poole, former number 2 pick James Wiseman, and finally Jonathan Kuminga.

Pre-Draft Notes

I won’t go into detail why Jordan Poole and James Wiseman didn’t pan out for the Warriors. Instead, let’s dive into the rise of Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga was drafted in 2021 by the Golden State Warriors as the number seven overall pick. Kuminga possesses physical gifts, standing at 6 ‘7 barefoot with a 6’ 11 wingspan and 99th percentile athleticism. Common pre-draft comparisons for Kuminga were a bigger Jaylen Brown, O.G. Anunoby, and Al-Farouq Aminu. As a Warriors fan watching the draft live on a beach in Oahu, I was ecstatic to hear the Warriors drafted Kuminga at the 7th pick. For context, Kuminga was typically mocked around the top 5 above Scottie Barnes and Josh Giddey and was in contention for the number 1 overall pick halfway into the college/g-league season before Cade Cunningham solidified himself as the draft’s top prospect. So this pick has always been a steal in my eyes.

Rookie and Sophomore Campaign

Kuminga’s first two seasons in the league were undeniably shaky, where most of his dynasty value lay on his youth and athletic potential. Below are his stats for his Freshman and Sophomore seasons. Nothing inspiring to write about. Besides a rock-solid FG% for a wing, his stocks, assists, and lack of defensive stats leave dynasty managers with a lot of questions about how high he can ascend in the ranks. 

Per Basketball Monster, in standard 9-category leagues, Kuminga ranked 361 and 257 in his Freshman and Sophomore campaigns. Furthermore, according to FBI’s average draft position (ADP) database, Kuminga’s value fell from a top 70 asset from Feb 2022 to a top 130 asset in September 2023. The dynasty community started to lose hope on the athletic highflyer  from the Republic of Congo. 

The Criticism

Kuminga’s lack of feel, poor free throw percentage, and lack of consistency from the 3-point line is what soured dynasty owners after his first two years and halfway into his third campaign. Kuminga may never develop into a consistent 3-point threat on high volume or an 80% free throw shooter. And that’s completely fine because we’ll discuss later in this article how Kuminga is playing to his strengths. In addition, many within the basketball community fail to acknowledge the difficulty of learning Kerr’s motion read and react offense, especially for younger prospects, compared to a PnR-heavy offense with little off-the-ball movement. 

The Flashes

We were given a sneak peek of Kuminga’s offensive potential in the preseason, finishing second in PPG (21.8). Additionally, Kuminga showcased a true ability as a three-level scorer, shooting 54.7% from the field and 45.8% from the three-point line, scoring from the mid-post, hitting open 3’s, and slamming down powerful dunks in the paint. 

What Changed?

Jonathan Kuminga got a haircut, that’s what changed. Just kidding, kinda. Last month, Shams Charania broke the news that after Kerr benched Kuminga for the final 18 minutes in their January 4th loss to Denver Jonathan Kuminga has lost faith in Steve Kerr and no longer believes that Kerr will allow him to reach his full potential. Kuminga had a serious discussion with veteran favored coach Steve Kerr on his frustration with his role on the Warriors where Kuminga will be extension eligible this off-season with millions of dollars on the line.  

Since his frustration went public, Kuminga has been on an absolute tear, averaging 22.8 PPG, 1.3 3PG, 6.2RPG, 2.5APG, 1.2SPG, and .7BPG on 59/79/47 shooting splits in 31 MPG. Kuminga is precisely what the Golden State Warriors need in a self-creator. Kuminga loves to run baseline for the weak side lob, shoot his patented mid-post fadeaway, and detonate powerful slams in transition (1.40 PPP in transition, 99th percentile over the last 15 games). But, his ability to get to the rim sets him apart from his peers, scoring 78.4% in the restricted area over the last 15 on 5.9 attempts per game. The Warrior’s inability to provide any sort of rim pressure besides Curry is what makes him so impactful. Kuminga pairs as the perfect co-star to Curry as he leverages Steph’s gravity to bring NBA defenses drawn to him, leaving Kuminga open driving lanes to slam ferocious dunks. He is replacing Jordan Poole’s role as the secondary shot creator, but Kuminga’s defensive potential and willingness separates him.

Examples of Kuminga’s Offensive Toolkit

Off-Ball Lob Threat

Mid Post Fadeaway

Slashing Ability

Kuminga’s Dynasty Outlook

During the past month, Jonathan Kuminga has ranked 32nd in standard 9-category leagues and 20th in the last two weeks. Now, I’m not implying he will continue to shoot this hot and consistently provide the same rank value throughout his career. I am, however, highlighting the ceiling Kuminga can reach when all things click. I project Kuminga to provide consistent top 50 seasons for years to come as he continues to learn the nuances of the NBA. JK is a top 50 asset in dynasty leagues, with plenty of room to grow alongside Stephen Curry. This is only the beginning and Kuminga is ready for lift off.