Jonathan Kuminga had a busy summer and now enters a potentially career-defining fourth season in the NBA. The Warriors need a second offensive star without Klay Thompson, and Kuminga could be the most logical choice to fill that role.
He improved his points per game from 9 in his first two seasons with Golden State to over 16 last year. Now entering his age 22 season, he is expected to take another big jump that could see him become a borderline all-star.
"It has been a long summer. My game has improved in different aspects. Shooting, creating my own shot, and just working on being a full, complete player," said Kuminga.
Kuminga will become a restricted free agent after the season, and a potential contract extension has been a hot topic recently. He could be a player who demands close to a max contract, but it seems like neither side is quite ready to commit to a number. It is a gamble by both parties, as his asking price could go up or down dramatically based on how Kuminga performs this year.
"Hopefully, only God knows," said Kuminga when asked if he thinks a deal gets done soon. "It would be good, but that is not my concern. I am just happy to be here and to start a new season, and things will work themselves out."
While getting paid is important, Kuminga is focused on the team and winning. If he plays well and the team wins, the contract will work itself out.
"The better I play, the more helpful it is to our team and everyone's success. I am just looking to go out there and help us win as many games as we can, and looking at the bigger picture, everyone's goal is to win a championship," said Kuminga.
Buddy Hield and Andrew Wiggins will have to take some of the scoring load off Steph Curry for this team to be successful, but the biggest relief could come in the form of a breakout season for Jonathan Kuminga.
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