Jonathan Kuminga’s athleticism is one of the Warriors’ biggest weapons. But his durability? That’s … another story. The young forward has already battled a series of injuries in his short career. And just when we thought JK was regaining his rhythm, another setback has Dub Nation holding its breath.

Midway through the second quarter against the Spurs, Kuminga attacked the rim, driving hard down the right side of the lane. But as he went for a layup, two defenders contested the shot, knocking him off balance midair. Jonathan hit the floor hard and stayed down for a moment before he could even stand up.

The worst part? No foul was called.

Kuminga, who was already working his way back from a previous ankle sprain, appeared to tell teammates, “I’m OK,” but her walked gingerly alongside Warriors medical director Drew Yoder.

And according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, “Jonathan Kuminga: Right ankle soreness, per Warriors. Will not return. That’s the same ankle that kept him out for 31 games.“

Just like that, Jonathan Kuminga left the Spurs matchup with 6:59 left in the second quarter. And the timing couldn’t have been worse. The Warriors are surging, now sitting as the sixth seed in the West after blowing out San Antonio 148-106. As for the 22-year-old? JK has been averaging 13.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 43.8% from the field in 9 games since his return. Moreover, his explosiveness was key to Golden State’s momentum—until now.

Now, with yet another setback, the question isn’t just how long Kuminga will be out. It’s what this means for his future with the Warriors.

Jonathan Kuminga’s injury raises questions about his future with the Dubs—or answers them

The Congolese forward is not too far behind among the names in the restricted free agency. The only challenge? His contract. Now, if you remember (and how could you not?), the Dubs recently signed Jimmy Bulter on a two-year $112 million deal, adding to an already hefty payroll. Over $150 million, to be exact! And while Joe Lacob has stated that money won’t keep them from building a competitive roster, one does wonder: just how much are the Warriors willing to pay to keep Jonathan Kuminga in the Bay Area?

And unfortunately or fortunately, this injury (and his injury history) could give the team leverage in negotiations. Just think back to some of the setbacks Kuminga has faced over the years.

• October 2021: Missed the first five games of his rookie season due to a strained right patella tendon.
• January 2023: A right foot sprain sidelined him for eight games.
• March-April 2024: A left knee tendinitis caused him to miss six games.

And considering the last ankle injury took Kuminga 31 games to suit up, only to get back on the injury report just nine games into his return, let’s just say, Lacob & Co. has the upper hand here. It doesn’t help that the free-agent market is predicted to be weaker than usual, per Brett Siegel of Clutch Points.

As such, other teams might hesitate to throw big offers JK’s way, making it easier for the Golden State Warriors to retain him without essentially breaking the bank. Coming back to the now, though, losing Jonathan Kuminga for an extended period is no doubt a major blow. Particularly given the team is looking to make a deep playoff run.

For now, all Golden State can do is hope Kuminga did not re-aggravate his ankle. He’s due for evaluation on Monday, and Steve Kerr kept it simple at halftime: “Such a bummer, you know, just coming back. Finding his rhythm. Playing well. So, hopefully, it’s nothing too serious.” (credit: Sam Gordon on X)

Well, stay tuned. We will keep you posted as more details emerge.