Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga admits he's nervous about losing bigger role – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

Jonathan Kuminga had to wait his turn and his patience is finally paying off this season.

The Warriors' young, rising star forward has wowed the NBA world with his breathtaking athleticism and energetic spirit. But his role on the team has admittedly confused the 21-year-old after his playing time has fluctuated since Golden State drafted him with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 draft.

However, in the third year, Kuminga's time seems to have come – and he hasn't let a second of his opportunities go to waste. However, having already experienced the ups and downs, Kuminga doesn't want to get too excited about his bigger role, knowing that one mistake can change everything.

“It feels great. “Obviously I'm still a little nervous because I'm younger on the team where if you lose the ball sometimes you might get out,” Kuminga told Bleacher Report's NBA insider Chris Haynes on Friday. “I just decide what I have to do, think faster and make quicker plays.”

“That’s the hardest part because now I have to learn to play with Steph Curry and Klay.” [Thompson]Draymond [Green], [Andrew Wiggins].”

Kuminga became frustrated after being unable to play a consistent role with Golden State during the 2022–23 season, and he was reportedly unhappy with his position on the team.

He recorded three DNPs (Did Not Play) in the first few weeks of the season and three in the Warriors' early playoff run.

Throughout the offseason and into the 2023-24 season, Warriors fans have asked questions and even demanded that Kuminga get on the court more often. All the while, the young striker kept his head down and remained focused and ready to call his number.

And when it finally happened, he was simply impressive.

Kuminga has a career average of 14.3 points on 53.1 percent shooting this season, along with 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.4 minutes off the bench. He has taken part in 41 of the Warriors' 42 games so far, starting 15 times.

His opportunity really came with Draymond Green's suspension and extended absence, as well as Andrew Wiggins' ongoing issues.

In Golden State's loss to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, the 6-foot-2 forward dropped a career-high 31 points with three rebounds, three assists and two while shooting 63.2 percent from the field and 50 percent from three -Point range steals in 30 minutes.

He has now scored 20 or more points in his last five games, averaging 25.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals over that span.

“It was great,” Kuminga said. “Draymond helps me every day in the situation and tells me what I have to do. It helps me slow down a little. “Obviously I had to go out there in the summer and just work because I knew what kind of player I was.” So I had to put a lot of work into all different aspects of basketball.

“And I feel like it’s kind of showing now. But I have a long journey ahead of me.”

There definitely is, young guy.

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