Before the Golden State Warriors began their season, one player became a magnet of conversation. Jonathan Kuminga, still without an extension, became a polarizing figure. In the past, he had expressed disappointment with Steve Kerr’s methods. However, then came the repair phase. “I’m excited to be coached under him again for my fourth year,” said the explosive forward. The nine-time champion too relayed confidence, but there was always a sense of doubt.

“He still has some things to prove,” Kerr said before the season. Hence, began the conundrum once again. Does Jonathan Kuminga start? In the first few games, Steve Kerr did hold up his end of the stick. But with the fourth-year forward still unable to bring consistency in his shooting, he went back to the bench. Now, he is an integral part of the second unit that is the most productive in the NBA by a considerable margin.

However, is Jonathan Kuminga comfortable in a condensed role knowing that he could sign a five-year $220 million extension with opportunities to produce greater output? Personally, Steve Kerr prefers to have the 22-year-old be a spark off the bench, and it seems they don’t disagree on that anymore.

“I like the role for him because he gives us something that we need you know. That force, the ability to get to the rim, ability to get fouls. He’s had a great run here coming off the bench and so I anticipate that would continue. But you know you’re always one injury away from everything changing potentially so you just take it game by game. But I love for JK is doing for us, his attitude, his approach has been fantastic,” said the Warriors HC on 95.7 The Game.

In any other circumstances, it would be understandable if Kuminga were apprehensive about coming off the bench. As a forward with supreme athleticism and sizzle, he can be a major contributor. However, seeing just how impactful he is in this new role, it’s no surprise that Kuminga has found comfort in this status.

Jonathan Kuminga is thriving off the bench

From preseason to even the early parts of the regular season, Steve Kerr did experiment with JK coming being a part of the starting lineup. Particularly, he has started three games for the Warriors thus far. But his attributes don’t match with the requirements Kerr hopes to have with his first string.

With Green acting as the playmaker, it’s essential for the Warriors to have great floor spacing. With Kuminga, he only shot 11.1% from a distance. Furthermore, he couldn’t unleash his natural slashing gameplay in those minutes. But when he comes from the bench, the Warriors are able to switch the tempo.

Kuminga fiercely attacks the rim and is able to keep defenses unsettled. Moreover, he is able to draw the fourth most fouls for the Warriors, adding greater discomfort to the opposition.

In terms of his output, he is 9th best bench scorer in the league, producing 15.3 points per game. His three-point shooting also sees a tremendous uptick, shooting 36.8% on nearly the same number of attempts. With Kerr’s new 12-man ideology, playing time also remains well distributed. Hence, Kuminga plays with a sense of freedom, trying to make the most of his time on the floor.

With that, there doesn’t seem to be any indication that the Warriors will look to offload the 22-year-old bolstering forward in February to improve their roster. With the injection of depth, Kuminga takes center stage, being a catalyst off the bench. And his production and tenacity are key behind the Bay’s success in the early weeks of the season.

It’s uncertain whether it’s enough for the Warriors to offer him a max extension. But as far as his impact goes, his dynamic with Buddy Hield is the primary factor behind the Bay’s incredible depth. Do you think he will remain a Warrior next season? Let us know your views in the comments below.