inside many problems that the 2022-2023 Golden State Warriors had, his bench production topped the list for most of the season. With the Departure of trusted veterans from list of names champion like Gary Payton II (now back in the franchise, but injured), Otto Porter, Damion Lee, Juan Toscano and Nemanja Bjelica, the team led by Steve Kerr was left with a extremely new and infinite second unit, which failed to rise to the occasion. And the few veterans they banked on (case in point JaMychal Green), didn’t pan out either.
However, within this dark panorama for the Warriors, an illusory light begins to appear, connected to the interpretation brought by Jonathan Kuminga in recent weeks. The Congolese scored 24 and 17 points in his last two games and is now averaging 15.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 58% from the field and 50% on threes in their last 10 performances. All in just 25.4 minutes.
It is worth remembering that Kuminga has just 20 years, so it makes sense for him to have an erratic performance in his first few steps in the league. But physical, athletic and technical talent it was always there. And little by little, he seems to be cementing it for the good of Golden State.
Kuminga’s performance stands out not only from the individual, but also from the collective. In this 10-game stretch, he collects one difference +27 on the field. And while we know +/- isn’t always a perfect formula, it’s still a positive sign on a Warriors bench that has been in the negative throughout 2022-2023.
Actually, the -1.1 his substitutes average during the season is o seventh-worst record in the NBA.
Another point to consider is the state of uncertainty surrounding Andrew Wiggins. The Canadian has been away from the team since mid-February personal problems he was not released and there is no certainty when he will return to Golden State. Or directly if he will during this season.
Kerr has been known to use a big lineup with Draymond Green and Kevon Looney as starters during the regular season, but When it comes to the playoffs and the most important games of the year, it usually leans toward small ball What a wonderful result it has given you over the years. Wiggins is a fundamental piece to this, as a big and athletic three, able to pair seamlessly with opposing fours. Without Wiggins and with Iguodala at the end of his career, today that role would fall to Kuminga.
In fact, Kerr has already predicted such a move in recent weeks: he included the African in his starting five in recent games with the Lakers, Rockets, Timberwolves, Thunder and Hawks.
The results of these bets were up and down, but overall, the Kuminga-Draymond interior duo performed positively: In 764 possessions with both on the court (without Looney), Golden State has a net rating of +2.9 (differential every 100 possessions). That mark is much higher than what Wiggins-Draymond recorded (again, without Looney): -0.4 Net Rating in 987 possessions.
Does that mean Kuminga is a better option than Wiggins? Of course not. The former Minnesota native showed he can be a a decisive factor in the peak occasions of the season, including a stellar performance in the 2022 Finals against Boston. But at least it suggests that Golden State could find an interesting solution, in a A 20-year-old young man who has everything to keep growing day by day.
