Jonathan Kuminga’s standoff with the Golden State Warriors has entered its quietest and most revealing phase yet As January 2026 rolls on, Kuminga’s silence is doing more talking than any postgame quote, and it is forcing uncomfortable questions about Steve Kerr’s handling of one of the roster’s most valuable young assets.
This is not a blowup or a mutiny. It is a calculated pause. And with the trade calendar now dictating outcomes, the Warriors’ internal balance looks more fragile than ever.
Jonathan Kuminga’s Camp Freezes the Situation as Trade Clock Starts
The direction of Jonathan Kuminga’s future became clear when Bay Area insider Brett Siegel reported that Kuminga and his representatives had decided to disengage from Steve Kerr’s rotation decisions altogether. Instead of lobbying for minutes or risking short stints that could lead to injury, the 23-year-old forward is staying ready off the floor while waiting for his trade restriction to lift on January 15, 2026.
The viral post reads, “Jonathan Kuminga and his camp believe it is in his best interest to stay ready behind the scenes and no longer let Steve Kerr’s decisions regarding his minutes impact his value. This is believed to be the reason Kuminga has not played recently.”
Jonathan Kuminga and his camp believe it is in his best interest to stay ready behind the scenes and no longer let Steve Kerr's decisions regarding his minutes impact his value, per @BrettSiegelNBA
This is believed to be the reason Kuminga has not played recently pic.twitter.com/X5I2GpAihG
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) January 6, 2026
The numbers support the strategy. Kuminga last played on December 18, 2025, and has since been a DNP-CD in 13 of the last 14 games, sitting out 20 of the last 25 contests overall. In 18 appearances this season, he averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 24.8 minutes, all three-year lows. Around the league, front offices already believe his value has dipped. An injury would erase it entirely.
Steve Kerr’s role has drawn growing scrutiny. Early in the season, Kuminga moved from starter to bench, then out of the rotation altogether. Minutes were redistributed to players like Gui Santos and Pat Spencer, even when Kuminga was available. Publicly, Kerr maintained there was no conflict. Privately, the optics told a different story. Against Oklahoma City, Kerr said he wanted to play Kuminga due to injuries elsewhere, only to later cite back tightness as the reason for another DNP. That explanation did little to convince observers.
Rashad McCants, along with Run It Back hosts Lou Williams and Chandler Parsons, openly questioned why Golden State would not showcase a player it may soon trade. From their view, Kerr’s approach hurts leverage, not helps it.
Many fans showed disappointment towards Kerr:
A fan said, “Steve ker is a jerk; he should be fired he get a team that mark Jackson built; the dub will never win another champ with ker as a coach.”
Another said, “Kerr can’t coach fr. Kuminga is a beast (pause) ..”
One more fan said, “Garbage coach that got awarded mark Jackson’s team smh.”
Another chimes, “Sounds like Steve’s getting fired.”
A person remarked, “Good on Kuminga. Absolutely done with Kerr.”
This calm exit contrasts sharply with the 2024–25 season, when Kuminga openly pushed for a larger role and eventually settled for a two-year, $48.5 million extension after a tense offseason. This time, there are no demands. Just acceptance. League sources now expect a deal soon after January 15, well ahead of the February 5 trade deadline.
Kuminga is no longer fighting for minutes. He is waiting for movement. And in that silence, Steve Kerr’s decisions are echoing louder than ever.
