PHOENIX — Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga popped back into Steve Kerr’s rotation during a 99-98 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. The 23-year-old played a total of 9:31, getting a stint in the second quarter and the fourth quarter. Kuminga finished with two points, four rebounds, an assist and a turnover, going 1-for-5 from the field. It was the first game he played in since getting pulled from the rotation before the Dec. 7 win over the Chicago Bulls.
Kuminga was happy to be back on the floor after an almost two-week absence. He was especially happy to play with veterans Stephen Curry and Draymond Green again.
“It felt good,” Kuminga said. “I feel like I fit perfect with them. I’ve been playing with them for a couple years now. I know how they play and I know where to be when they’re playing when we’re on the floor.”
Kerr said leading up to Thursday’s game that Kuminga earned a chance to get back in the rotation from the way he’s been performing in practice.
“He was good,” Kerr said. “We wanted him to get out there and use his speed and athleticism, set screens, dives. He had a good pass to Gui (Santos) in the first half from the pocket, and it’s good to see back out there. He’s handled himself really well this last week, and I wanted to reward that.”
Kuminga, who is averaging 12.4 points and 6.3 rebounds this season, began the year in the starting lineup. He was taken out of the starting lineup before a Nov. 12 win over the San Antonio Spurs and then missed the next seven games because of a knee injury. He struggled again for a stretch after returning to the floor Nov. 29 and said he’s been trying to stay in a rhythm as best he can while trying to work his way back into the lineup.
“Working out every day,” Kuminga said. “Staying sharp, watching film. I watch them play every day. I think that’s the biggest thing. Just try to stay in shape and everything will just handle itself. Just stay in shape and put the work in every single day and just wait for the moment.”
The lingering question surrounding Kuminga is the same one that has hovered around him since he signed a new two-year deal with a team option a couple days into training camp: Will he be moved by the Feb. 5 trade deadline?
A fresh batch of speculation has been served in the wake of his recent benching as the question continues to pop up around the league. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has Kuminga ranked eighth on his trade board. The first day Kuminga could be traded is Jan. 15. For his part, Kuminga is trying to take all the speculation in stride. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen, but he said he isn’t concerned about it as both he, and the Warriors, continue to try and find their way during an up-and-down season for both parties.
“I don’t look at that,” Kuminga said of the ongoing trade speculation. “I think when it comes, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I don’t put my mind focusing on that. Because it’s gonna take me out of (the present) so I don’t even think about stuff like that. I just focus on how I’mma get on that floor, when I get on that floor, what am I going to do to help us win and stuff like that? That’s actually what’s been on my mind … just go out there and compete and find a way.”
