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Isiah Thomas says he would've choked Kerr already if he was Kuminga: "By now, we Latrell Sprewell"
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- Isiah Thomas says he would've choked Kerr already if he was Kuminga: "By now, we Latrell Sprewell"
Both Trae Young and Jonathan Kuminga have been involved in trade rumors for a couple of seasons now. Young was dealt by the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, in a move that gives both teams and the player a fresh start.
However, Kuminga is still with the Warriors , sitting on the bench and watching his season pass him by without getting game action. According to Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas , we need to give JK a lot of credit because it is very frustrating to watch one's team lose while sitting on the bench, knowing he could make a difference if given playing time.
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"That's got to mess with your mind. And for him to come out, if he comes out of this situation, you're only as good as your confidence is. If you're confident as a player, then that takes you to another level. I don't know where his confidence level is at. It's got to be a lot lower than before because you're getting DNP on a team that's below .500 sometimes," said Thomas on FanDuel's "Run it Back" show.
Jonathan has not played since December 18th
Kuminga has fallen from grace since his breakout 2023-24 campaign, where he averaged 16.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Last season, he appeared in only 47 games, with 10 starts, and this season, he has played in only 18 of Golden State's games, including 13 starts.
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JK last saw action on December 18, 2025, against the Phoenix Suns , where he played only 10 minutes and scored just two points. He has not played in the Dubs' last 10 games played, and has incurred 8 DNPs during that stretch. With Golden State just 20-18 this season and with 10 of their losses coming via a single-digit losing margin, Kuminga's 11.8 points per game scoring average could have turned the tide in some, most, or perhaps even all of those close losses.
"It's a very strange, strange situation, and I give Kuminga a lot of credit for not blowing up. He must have some good vets around him and some good people in his family, because I know if it was me or any other NBA player, by now, we Latrell Sprewell, we chokin' the coach," Thomas added.
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Spree choked PJ in the infamous 1997 incident
It was in 1997 when Latrell Sprewell snapped and choked Golden State Warriors head coach PJ Carlesimo after a verbal argument during practice. Carlesimo was merely calling out Sprewell's passing, but the two had already butted heads many times before because of PJ's criticisms and coaching style disagreements.
The Warriors terminated Sprewell's contract, and the NBA suspended him for one season. And perhaps more than having good vets and a solid support group, Kuminga does not want to risk his future by putting his hands on Kerr, even if he probably wants to every day.
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While Thomas has a point in the Warriors hurting Kuminga's confidence by not playing him, perhaps the only reason he remains a Warrior is that he cannot be traded before January 15th, as he just signed a new contract last summer. If the Dubs still don't trade JK at the end of the moratorium, then maybe that's the time it would be okay to choke Kerr and Mike Dunleavy.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
