The NBA finally drew the line for Draymond Green and his violent tendencies on-court. The forward is now indefinitely suspended from playing. Offering a fresh perspective on the whole incident, Shams Charania sheds new light on the incident. More specifically, one favoring the 21-year-old forward-center of the Golden State Warriors.
In the Run It Back show, Charania joins the crew and talks about how Green’s absence might benefit the rapidly rising Congolese star, Jonathan Kuminga.
Draymond Green’s misactions pave the way for Kuminga
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With how the league has handled things, the Warriors are minus a key player. The consequences of this aren’t exactly convenient, but Green’s unpredictable behavior isn’t particularly beneficial either. When asked about his opinion on Kuminga taking Dray’s place, the senior Athletic writer offered a practical outlook. He said, “You have to make the best decision for the organization, and that means going with Jonathan Kuminga moving forward.”
"You have to make the best decision for the organization, and that means going with Jonathan Kuminga moving forward." @ShamsCharania
"Is there a world in which he keeps that spot even when Draymond [Green] comes back?" @MichelleDBeadle
"1000%" @ShamsCharania
?:? pic.twitter.com/LGPoykSbwg
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 14, 2023
He also speaks of how the starting lineup featuring the core three is an aspect that has become a constant, like the North Star in the Warriors. The three of them “riding into the sunset” is a picture that has ingrained itself into everyone’s minds, including Steve Kerr.
That is part of the reason why Kerr has stood by his decision about the traditional lineup. Giving as many opportunities as can be logically explained, Coach Kerr has remained loyal to the trio that built the dynasty to its former glory. Unfortunately, the Dubs have reached a stage where even the most whimsical of fans have to agree the lineup change was a necessity. For the sake of the Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga has managed to fill in the wide shoes of Draymond Green.
Why Kuminga is the answer to the Warriors’ Green woes
The first time the 6’7, 225-pound forward-center showed his capability to fill Draymond’s shoes was during the Warriors-Clippers matchup on November 30. Completely unplanned, the 21-year-old scored 17 points in the final 23 minutes of the game.
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Bringing the athleticism to a core that is well over 30, Kuminga is averaging 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists this season. But what truly displays his strengths would be the last four games they played. With an average of 14.8 points and 5.3 rebounds, the 2022 NBA champion is prepared to take a permanent spot in the starting five.
If and when Green does come back, Shams Charania is “1000%” sure that Jonathan Kuminga will keep that spot.
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Watch This Story: Has Stephen Curry Won His Last Championship With Warriors Amid Serious Concerns Over Draymond Green and Klay Thompson’s Future?
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.