No contract extension and now another injury scare. Jonathan Kuminga’s season just got worse. The last time the Warriors and Grizzlies squared off, the Bay got crushed by 51 points. Golden State was clearly coming into this game with a chip on their shoulder. But they have suffered an offensive blow already, and their revenge hopes have just gotten slimmer…

During Saturday’s game, Kuminga went up for a block attempt on Jake LaRavia during the second quarter with 2:27 left on the clock. He twisted his ankle awkwardly as he landed on Brandon Clarke’s foot and quickly limped off the court. Clearly in pain, he made his way straight to the locker room. Rick Celebrini followed closely behind, probably to assess the injury. It didn’t look good, and you could feel the tension as he hobbled off.

Kuminga had been on fire, leading the Warriors with 13 points. He was shooting lights out—4-for-6 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from deep. The guy was also getting it done at the free-throw line, hitting 2-of-4 attempts while chipping in two rebounds and two assists. But, of course, no game is without its hiccups—he did have four turnovers.

JK’s dealing with a right ankle sprain and won’t be coming back, reports Anthony Slater of The Athletic. The fall in the first half was pretty brutal, and now he’s in the locker room, icing it.

It’s a shame because he was looking good these past few games. Even Kerr felt the same…

Steve Kerr praises Jonathan Kuminga, even though their contract negotiations didn’t work out!

The 22-year-old forward’s potential has been clear at times, but consistency has been an issue. Yet, Steve Kerr is seeing something different lately, especially in his recent play.

“He looks like a different guy to me,” Kerr shared on 95.7 The Game’s Willard & Dibs on Friday. “Honestly, these last 5 games, I think the light switch has gone on, and you can see it in the rebounding. I think he’s averaging about eight rebounds over that stretch. The ball movement, I thought his passing in the second quarter [against the Philadelphia 76ers] really unlocked the game. He was penetrating, getting to space and then moving it. And then we just started to move the ball from there.”

If you’ve watched the Warriors lately, you’ve probably noticed it too—Kuminga’s growing confidence. Unlike before, when he’d break down the defense and settle for mid-range shots, he’s now looking to move the ball and attack the rim. That change is making a big difference in the offense, and the head coach is loving it.

Jonathan Kuminga’s numbers back up the improvement. He’s currently averaging 16.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 45.6% shooting. But it’s his recent run that has been eye-catching. In the last five games, he’s stepped up with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 52%.

The Bay is still searching for that perfect second scorer next to Steph Curry. Who knows, Kuminga may just be emerging as the answer! It’s exciting to see him take the leap—he’s getting there.