He was supposed to be the future. Explosive. Versatile. Untouchable. Now? He’s watching from the bench. No minutes. No explanations. No sign that things will change.

Jonathan Kuminga was supposed to be part of the Warriors’ next chapter. But as Golden State heads into the postseason, the writing on the wall is getting harder to ignore.

One of the Warriors’ most promising young talents is now on the outside looking in. And it’s not just about rotations. It’s about relationships. Philosophies. And ultimately, a future that looks less and less like it will be in the Bay.

“The likely situation is [Jonathan Kuminga]’s not going to be on the Warriors next season,” said Tim Kawakami on 95.7 The Game. “It was probably going to be a tricky situation for him to come back anyway.”

In the biggest games of the season, Steve Kerr made it clear: Jonathan Kuminga isn’t part of the plan. In the regular-season finale loss to the Clippers and the play-in victory over the Grizzlies, Kuminga didn’t play a single minute. Not even a single possession.

Kerr refused to offer insight into why. It follows a now-familiar pattern: cryptic rotations, sudden DNPs, and increasing tension between Kuminga’s playing style and Kerr’s system. “There doesn’t need to be a referendum every single night on JK,” Kerr said earlier in April. “He’s a young guy and he’s helping us win games. But we have other guys who help us win games.”

That quote said more than it tried not to say. And for Kuminga, it feels like déjà vu. The same organizational tension that pushed James Wiseman out the door is starting to take shape again. Tim Kawakami even pointed out the parallel:

“[Joe Lacob] loved James Wiseman. Maybe it’s the same thing with Kuminga. Eventually, Steve Kerr decided Wiseman couldn’t fit with what they were doing, and he was dead on right.”

And Warriors insider Tim Kawakami added: “I don’t know that he’s going to be galloping to sign a new deal with the Warriors given all this.“

The money only complicates it. Kuminga reportedly wants $30–35 million per year — a big bet for a player not seeing playoff minutes. For the Warriors, already deep in the tax with aging stars and a win-now roster, that’s a tough sell.

Heading into the season, the Warriors and Kuminga couldn’t come to terms on an extension. Word is, the two sides were around $5 million apart. Not massive in NBA terms, but enough to leave Kuminga headed toward restricted free agency in the summer of 2025—and his future with the franchise hanging in the balance.

Now, former Warriors guard Gilbert Arenas isn’t buying that this was just a financial disagreement. According to him, there’s more going on behind the scenes. He claimed Kuminga’s refusal to sign that deal is why his minutes have taken a hit, flat-out saying: “If Jonathan Kuminga don’t sign that contract, his a– is going to that bench.”

That’s a bold accusation, but not out of the question. Arenas even added that had Kuminga inked the extension, he’d likely be starting and getting way more runway to show off his skill set.

And look, it makes sense that the Warriors are cautious here. They’ve already been burned once with the Jordan Poole situation—committing big money before the player really proved he was worth it. Add in the financial squeeze from the salary cap and the pressure to build around an aging Steph Curry, and suddenly it’s clear why Golden State isn’t rushing to hand Kuminga the bag.

Right now, it feels like a standoff. Kuminga wants more money and a bigger role. The Warriors? They want more proof he’s worth, either.

Hence, the signs are everywhere. Governor Joe Lacob, who at one point went as far as calling Kuminga ‘the future of the franchise‘ has gone quiet. Fans have noticed. And not only fans, teams around the league are watching this unravel. Closely. Especially the Sacramento Kings.

So, what does Kuminga’s future look like in the league?

From Dub to Done: Why Everything Changed for Kuminga And Why There’s No Going Back

Insiders like Marcus Thompson and Anthony Slater are putting this as bluntly as possible. “… If you’re Kuminga, you’re like, ‘I’m not coming back to a coach that doesn’t believe in me,’” Thompson said. But what prompted this?

Kuminga missed 31 games this season due to a serious ankle injury. In that time, the Warriors made their most aggressive move of the year: acquiring Jimmy Butler. Since Butler’s arrival, the team is 23-5 when Butler, Green and Curry all play. The lineup works. And Kuminga? He doesn’t quite fit.

His old-school, back-to-the-basket game doesn’t mesh with Kerr’s read-and-react system. In fact, one fan on X put it very bluntly: “Steve doesn’t know how to coach Jonathan Kuminga. He refuses to watch it for more than two possessions, regardless of how well it works.”

However, Draymond Green still has Kuminga’s back.

“He’ll contribute… I think the challenge for him is to stay mentally engaged… I have zero doubt in my mind that he’s gonna help us in this series.”

But those comments may say more about Draymond’s loyalty than the team’s strategy. He’s always been the locker room glue, backing teammates publicly even when the rotation suggests otherwise. Deep down, Green might know what the rest of us are seeing: that the system is moving on without Kuminga. Not because he can’t play — but because Kerr won’t pivot. And with the stakes this high, a philosophical fit often outweighs raw talent. That’s the harsh reality of basketball.

Moreover, with the Warriors facing the Rockets in Round 1, the Butler-Curry-Green core is locked. In fact, as long as Moody, and Podziemski are delivering within Kerr’s system — spacing the floor, making quick reads, defending in transition — it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Kuminga reclaims a role. Not because he lacks talent, but because the trust isn’t there. And trust is everything in this game. Yes, Kuminga’s ability to guard wings and switch 1-4 remains elite. But if Kerr doesn’t believe in him, it really doesn’t matter.

However, it’s not all over. Before the Golden State door closes entirely, other teams are already lining up. Most notably — the Sacramento Kings. They’ve emerged as a serious suitor for Kuminga’s services. With a roster built around pace and space, and a need for a powerful, versatile wing, Kuminga could find a more defined role there than he ever had in Golden State. Some fans also see the Brooklyn Nets as a serious contender.

Whether it’s Sacramento or somewhere else, it’s becoming clear: Jonathan Kuminga’s next chapter probably won’t be in Golden State.