Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga registered a “DNP” on Sunday’s 123-91 win over the Chicago Bulls. Instead of playing Kuminga, coach Steve Kerr gave minutes to Pat Spencer, Will Richard and Gui Santos. Kuminga’s absence on the floor was a huge topic, since stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green were out.
Kuminga has appeared in 17 games this season, averaging 12.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He hasn’t played well in the 2025-26 NBA season compared to the previous one. But he still makes the most of his time on the floor, which is why Kerr’s decision not to play him came as a surprise to many.
Following the contest, Kuminga tried to downplay the issue in front of the reporters.
“We’re going another way. We just switched certain things, that’s all,” Kuminga said.
On Tuesday, Kerr appeared as a guest on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” to talk about his decision to bench Jonathan Kuminga. The former Chicago Bulls point guard pointed out Kuminga’s recent struggles as the reason why he didn’t earn playing time.
“There’s no denying that he (Kuminga) didn’t play as well as he had,” he said. “Our team didn’t play as well and so we decided to make a shift. And as I said, that’s my job.
“If things aren’t going well, I have to find a different solution, a different combination. And I think it’s as simple as that. Jonathan was playing really well those first 8 or 10 games. And then the last few weeks have not been nearly as good and so we made a shift. It’s not that complicated.”
Kuminga has averaged 7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in his last four games. While his numbers justify Kerr’s argument, it also hasn’t helped that he’s averaged 19.3 minutes during that stretch.
Marc Spears calls for the Warriors to trade Jonathan Kuminga
Things haven’t been easy for Jonathan Kuminga. He’s struggled to earn minutes, despite being a seasoned player under Kerr’s system. ESPN’s Marc Spears thinks it’s time for the Warriors to explore the trade market and let Kuminga go.
“Free JK. You could see it in his eyes. He’s trying to be professional,” Spears said after Kuminga did not play against Chicago. “I mean, it’s still several weeks away before he’s eligible to be traded, and it just started off so well. He averaged 15 points and seven rebounds the first 12 games. Then he got hurt, and just like last season, after he came back from injury, just doesn’t mesh well with the Warriors.”
Spears pointed out that Kuminga’s future still lies with the Warriors. If they can get a favorable deal out of the athletic forward, there’s a chance he could move on from Golden State.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
