Jonathan Kuminga was supposed to be the Warriors’ future. Athletic. Explosive. A two-way threat that could help bridge the gap between eras, Kuminga had everything going his way. But now? He might not even be part of their present. The Warriors benched Kuminga in their final regular-season game—a must-win against the Clippers with playoff seeding on the line. Yes, they lost the game against the Clippers in a Nail-biting finish, but apart from the game, what the Dubs may have lost in the locker room is harder to measure.

“We’ve just found a group since Jimmy got here that we’re pretty comfortable with,” Steve Kerr said post-game. Even a few days back, Kerr made his stance pretty clear about Kuminga. “Every game is different and I think Jimmy’s arrival took away a lot of Jonathan’s minutes at the four,” Kerr added.

The Warriors HC’s comments only goes on to confirm that the decision to bench Kuminga wasn’t injury-related. He was active, healthy, and was seen warming up pregame. He even stayed after the loss to get shots up. Yet he logged zero minutes—his first DNP-CD in months. As per Kerr, this was a tactical call from him to bench Kuminga and Gui Santos both.

Kuminga, especially, has averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds this season. He dropped 34 points and 10 boards against these very Clippers in December. Even during the presser, Kerr had no answer when asked about what role will Kuminga will play now.

The interesting part about all this is what Steph Curry said. He doesn’t often wade into rotation drama. But this time, he did. “Just be ready,” Curry told Kuminga publicly. “You never know when your moment will be there… it wasn’t his time tonight. Against Memphis, it could be a game where he makes his presence felt.”

That’s Curry offering a lifeline. Re-centering a teammate who might be feeling sidelined in more ways than one. Moreover, earlier this season, Curry defended Kuminga against critics, insisting he “has to be a part of it” if the Warriors want to win it all.

But when the head coach won’t even confirm if there’s been a recent conversation? That’s a signal thing are different now. The Steph-Curry-and-Kerr era has always been defined by trust. For Kerr to sideline Kuminga and go silent on his future, signals a break in that rhythm.

How the Warriors’ Culture Shift is Leaving Kuminga Behind

Kuminga’s benching isn’t just a one-off. It’s emblematic of a broader transformation inside the Warriors’ locker room. Once known for bringing up young talent alongside established stars, Golden State now feels increasingly veteran-first. With Jimmy Butler joining Curry and Draymond Green, there’s less room for experimentation, more urgency for results.

And Kuminga is the one caught in between. Kerr admitted as much. The lineup with Kuminga, Butler, and Green “doesn’t fit real well.” Translation? There’s no floor spacing. Too many slashers. Not enough shooters. It clogs the paint and cramps Curry’s game.

Even Warriors owner Joe Lacob, who once called Kuminga “the future of the franchise,” has been quiet. But two months ago, he reaffirmed his belief: “Absolutely,” Lacob said. “One hundred percent. Are you kidding me? I love that guy. We love him.”

The vibe has shifted and so have the priorities. Insiders like Marcus Thompson and Anthony Slater aren’t sugarcoating it: “It feels like the end of an era,” Thompson said. “… If you’re Kuminga, you’re like, ‘I’m not coming back to a coach that doesn’t believe in me.’”

So, what happened to Kuminga this season? It wasn’t just basketball. An ankle injury sidelined him for weeks mid-season, just as the Warriors were discovering a winning groove with Butler. By the time Kuminga returned, the rotation had changed. Roles were tighter. Patience thinner.

Let’s also talk about the reality of the salary cap for a second.

Butler is locked into a two-year, $112 million extension. Draymond still has money left. Steph isn’t going anywhere. And with Kuminga entering restricted free agency this summer, which means that keeping him won’t come cheap. The Warriors can’t pay everyone top dollar, especially if their roles aren’t clearly defined. With massive contracts on the books and roster fit becoming a question, Golden State faces a choice: invest in the future or lean fully into the now.

If the Warriors believe he no longer fits Kerr’s system—or Butler’s timeline—they may let him walk. Or flip him. The Spurs have reportedly shown interest. A sign-and-trade for Devin Vassell, who fits the Warriors’ spacing needs better, isn’t off the table.

So yes, Kuminga might be a casualty of style, circumstance, and spreadsheet math. And in a franchise known for trust, transparency, and homegrown development—maybe that’s the rarest occurrence of all.