Kerr, Dunleavy define hopes for Kuminga in fourth NBA season

Kerr, Dunleavy define hopes for Kuminga in fourth NBA season initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space

Warriors basic supervisor Mike Dunleavy and coach Steve Kerr imagine massive issues are in retailer for Jonathan Kuminga this season.

Chatting with NBC Sports activities Bay Space’s Kerith Burke at Warriors Media Day, Kerr was requested what he believes a great season for Kuminga would seem like.

“Being a two-way participant, he has the flexibility to be a lockdown defender,” Kerr advised Burke. “He’s been good on-ball. Must be higher off the ball. Rebounding. Transition protection. We had been very poor on transition protection final yr. Placing that on all of our guys”

The 22-year-old loved a breakout marketing campaign final season after expressing frustration together with his place in Kerr’s rotations early within the season. When requested by Burke if he thought Kuminga could possibly be a full-time starter, the Golden State coach was noncommittal

“Everyone must be able to go this yr,” Kerr advised Burke. “There are spots accessible. I’m not guaranteeing something to anyone besides Steph, Draymond, most likely. We’ve got to find our workforce. I’m creating competitors.”

With Klay Thompson departing for the Dallas Mavericks over the summer season, Golden State has a gaping offensive gap behind Curry and Kuminga has the potential to fit into that function because the No. 2 possibility.

Whereas there have been rumors main as much as final season’s NBA commerce deadline and into the offseason that the Warriors probably may commerce Kuminga, Dunleavy was unwilling to surrender his budding celebrity.

“It’s a must to construct from inside,” Dunleavy stated. “The fellows you draft and develop, they are often actually good. So for us to surrender on him or another younger gamers, it must be a ‘Wow’ deal.

“We see his progress and trajectory being actually, actually excessive. We drafted him. We put plenty of effort, hours and work in with him. And so I believe simply to maneuver off of gamers or improve just isn’t all the time the best reply. We’re going to observe the trail that has all the time labored. We expect Jonathan goes to have an amazing yr.”

Kuminga made big enhancements throughout his third NBA season, creating right into a dependable double-digit scoring risk, averaging 16.1 factors, 4.8 rebounds and a pair of.2 assists per recreation.

Dunleavy nonetheless want to see a bit extra from the 22-year-old. “[I want him to continue] to get comfy with what we’re attempting to do offensively and defensively,” Dunleavy added.

The items are in place for this new-look Golden State workforce to be an element within the Western Convention, however Kuminga might want to proceed his enchancment. Given his pure basketball skill and his younger age, it’s doable this could possibly be the yr he totally breaks out.

Kerr and Dunleavy appear to suppose so, and the teenager will get his probability when the NBA season formally begins on Oct. 23.

Obtain and observe the Dubs Speak Podcast