The year 2025 has been disappointing for Jonathan Kuminga. After averaging 16.1 points in 46 starts last season, Dubs fans expected Kuminga to burst onto the scene in the 2024/25 season. Sadly, an injury in January left him hurt and frustrated, sitting on the sidelines as his team went 8-8 in January.

The signing of Jimmy Butler did turn around the Warriors’ fortunes. But nothing was different for Kuminga himself, whose injury turned out to be more serious than anyone expected. However, now it’s time for JK to make a triumphant return to the floor! At least that’s what an NBA insider says ahead of the Sacramento Kings game.

Golden State Warriors vs Sacramento Kings – Insider drops huge update on Jonathan Kuminga’s return

Fans expected Jonathan Kuminga to return earlier this month after Steve Kerr hinted that the forward’s recovery was coming along well. However, he then broke the Dubs Nation’s hearts when he revealed that the injury was more serious than expected.

However, this time, it’s Shams Charania who’s given us an update on Kuminga’s return. And Warriors fans, you can start forgetting what happened last time. “Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga – out since Jan. 4 with a sprained ankle – plans to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Sacramento Kings, sources tell ESPN,” wrote Shams on X.

It’s time for the world to welcome Kuminga back into the league!

That said, as much as we hate to put a damper on things, there’s also some bad news for you. Even though Jonathan Kuminga is back, we cannot say the same for Brandin Podziemski. He walked off in the very first minute of the Brooklyn Nets game with a lower back issue. And it seems his back is still bothering him—enough to put his appearance against the Kings into question.

Nevertheless, Podziemski’s return is imminent as well. It’ll only be another few games at best before we see Brandin back in a Warriors jersey. But what do these returns mean for a Warriors team that’s red-hot now?

How will Kuminga’s return affect the Warriors?

Put simply, Jonathan Kuminga’s return is great news for the Dubs. It’s not hard to see why. As Shams mentioned in his tweet, Kuminga was averaging 20.5 points in 14 games before his injury. While it’s not realistic to expect him to pick up where he left off, he can still be a great bench option for the remainder of the regular season.

And if they’re able to close out the regular season on a high, that means two things. First, they’ll have more backup for the postseason as Steph Curry makes a push for his final ring. Second, Kuminga will be able to watch ‘Playoff Jimmy’ in all his glory from up close. And we think that’s invaluable for his future.

Steve Kerr already admitted that Jimmy is the “perfect player” for Kuminga to emulate. With the former Miami Heat forward 35 years old already, time is running out for him to impart his wisdom onto Kuminga. And we’ll be honest: someone with the attributes of Kuminga playing as efficiently as Jimmy Butler? More than enough to make us shudder on behalf of every other team in the NBA!

At the end of the day, Kuminga coming back bodes well for Golden State’s present and future. As for the Sacramento Kings game? Well, we think the Dubs have it in the bag with or without Kuminga. We just hope he isn’t rushed back into the squad.