Did Jonathan Cumminga just rewrite the Warriors championship script?

Everyone knew entering this season with one of the oldest teams in the NBA, the margin of error for Golden State Warriors Championship Aspirations it would be thin.

There has never been a debate about the infrastructure of a competitive team; even in the twilight of their careers, Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green remain able to compete at a high level. But there were questions about how to get them into the postseason intact and healthy. Questions remain about how the players around them can maximize their skills and vice versa.

And while it was only one game, Jonathan Kuminga looked like he could stand up to become the answer to those problems after his performance in Golden State opens the season 119-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers away from home. The 23-year-old wing finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists on 6-of-11 FG, four of which were 3-pointers.

He looked comfortable running the floor, finding other players and battling on the boards, all while guarding Luka Doncic as the primary defender. Kuminga grabbed a key offensive rebound that set up Curry for a dagger 35-foot 3-pointer, which Green described as one of games games.

“That jump is what everyone in the world has been waiting to see,” Green said. “You’ve got that athleticism, you’re going to make big plays. You’ve got superstar potential, you’re going to make big plays. Those are the plays that win … And so, we can all ask for an opportunity — when you ask for an opportunity, you’ve got to deliver. I think he’s been very vocal about his opportunity, and he’s delivered.”

Why things are working for Jonathan Cumminga right now

It’s no secret that the time Kuminga and Golden State spent together was short. With his size, youth, athleticism and raw talent, Kuminga was this enticing variable who showed flashes of high voltage. But he and the Warriors have struggled to maximize that talent because of a mismatch between what he wants to be and what Steve Kerr and the coaching staff wants to be.

Kuminga asked for more opportunities and more responsibility befitting a star, while Kerr stressed that he needs to do the ancillary things that contribute to winning, such as rebounding and high-level defense. That’s why his contract negotiations were so heated before he eventually signed a two-year extension with a team option in a prove-it deal. As a result, things have been contentious at times, such as when Kuminga demanded a trade halfway through the 2023-2024 season.

However, all that drama seems to have disappeared, so to speak, since Kuminga signed an extension. He looked sharp and embraced the Warriors’ game plan throughout the preseason. And that translated in his performance against Los Angeles. After the game, Kerr talked about what drew Cummings solid rhythm early.

“I think he’s really matured,” Kerr said. “He’s had a great camp. We’ve had some really good conversations. I think he understands better what we need. You saw in the first half, he made some tough mid-range beats that we don’t want. He put his hand up right away; he realized it wasn’t a goal.”

Kerr shared how the adjustment at halftime was getting Kuminga to engage with Curry more, which helped him find his rhythm. He also quoted Butler’s guidance during training camp, helping Cummings a lot after practice. But in the end, Kerr contextualized Kuminga’s youth in relation to what was being asked of him.

“With Jonathan, you have to remember he just turned 23 … he came to us basically as a freshman in college. That’s how I looked at it and a lot of players today just don’t have the same experience and reps that they did years ago. And it wasn’t easy for him to find playing time on our team. I’m really proud of him and I’m really proud of him for staying with us and maturing with us.”

How Kuminga is changing Golden State’s ceiling

Even though it’s so early in the season, Cummings’ performance showed a lot of potential for what Golden State can do moving forward. As Kerr pointed out, Kuminga’s play alongside Curry will be key moving forward. With him as a screener, or even No. 30 as a screener, Curry’s gravity should give him easy opportunities. He looked calm and composed, making the right play as a way out when two players jumped on Curry.

Cumming’s jumper also looked new and improved as he buried a few threes he missed last season. Spacing is always important in Kerr’s offense, and when Cummings’ shot hits the target, it changes the type of lineups Golden State can field.

And defensively, it’s always nice to have a player who can defend on the ball 94 feet. With Moses Moody out, he was tasked with chasing Doncic for most of the game. While Kuminga didn’t shut down the Lakers star, he made Doncic work.

“He’s been guarding Luka all night,” Green said. “We didn’t have to hire two guys. So (Doncic) gets 43, which I always tell these guys, you don’t stop a great scorer. That’s not the way the league is set up to stop a great scorer. But you make it difficult for them. And I think he was tough all night, body to body all day.”

It’s Kumming’s two-way potential that makes him so exciting. It’s the guy that does the dirty work so veterans don’t have to, and it prevents wear and tear.

“JK was done (Doncic), but then he stayed so patient in the attack,” Green continued.

“It didn’t go well offensively early, and he just stayed patient. And he stayed patient, and the game just turned his way. And so, it was about rebounding, but the overall order of what we’ve seen since he’s come into camp, the power he plays with, the power he runs with, the passes he could make (Hazy could throw away, Al’s Crai). Two years ago he was is incredible tonight, and I want to make sure he knows that.”