Request by Jonathan Cumminga to Steve Kerr

The Golden State Warriors they sail through one of their rockiest early-season stretches and thrive Jonathan Kuminga is at the center of the latest inside story. According to team sources, Kuminga recently made a direct and personal request to the head coach Steve Kerr: wants to be trained harder.

The conversation reportedly took place during a meeting at the team hotel in Sacramento before the ninth game of the season. Kerr, known for his friendly playing style, took the message seriously.

During the game against the Kings, he repeatedly called on Cuming for direct, constructive feedback, signaling that he was willing to respond to Cuming’s request with accountability.

The Warriors are on a 72-game winning streak when Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler play, but Jonathan Cummings doesn’t 👀#noticing pic.twitter.com/RleVusIIre

— TrollMuse (@TrollMuse_) November 15, 2025

But the timing for the trade came just as the Warriors began to pull away. A 4-1 start quickly turned into a .500 record, and Cumming’s own play dipped as knee pain began to limit his explosiveness. The 23-year-old struggled defensively in back-to-back losses to the Bucks (without Giannis Antetokounmpo) and the Pacers (who were missing part of their rotation).

His offensive impact also faded, especially on a 1-for-9 shooting night against Indiana, where he missed all five of his 3-point attempts. The coaches pointed to his shot selection as the reason for the reduced playing time.

Kuminga continued to show activity on the glass, grabbing eight rebounds in that game, something he and assistant coach Chris DeMarco pointed to as evidence that he can make an impact in a win even when the score isn’t there.

But turnovers plagued him during the loss to Oklahoma City, and with Stephen Curry sidelined for three games with an illness, the offense sputtered.

Curry’s return did not immediately stabilize the group, and when the team fell to 6-6, Kerr and the veterans decided on a strategic change. A new starting lineup featuring Moses Moody and rookie Will Richard hinted at a reset, and Draymond Green emphasized that during a losing streak, it becomes harder for players to challenge the coach’s decisions.

Kuminga has missed the last four games on the road with knee tendinitis, but with a long stretch ahead of home and some practice to do, the Warriors hope to reintegrate him on purpose. The demand to be coached harder could ultimately define how Kuminga re-enters the rotation and whether this rocky stretch becomes a turning point for both him and the Warriors.