Steph Curry sends powerful message of support to Jonathan Kuminga amid trade talks
Stephen Curry is set to return to the Golden State Warriors ' lineup after missing the previous five games due to a quad contusion. However, his much-needed return isn't the biggest news in the organization’s camp these days. Instead, the uncertainty surrounding Jonathan Kuminga 's role and future with the team is.
Glued to the bench in the Warriors ' 123-91 win over the Chicago Bulls , a move head coach Steve Kerr attributed to Kuminga's struggles in the previous four games, the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft has become a source of frustration for fans and analysts alike.
After all, it's not hard to see how much potential the 6'7" forward has. Despite inking a lucrative two-year contract before the start of the season and being given a chance to run with the starters early, Kuminga was unable to make a significant impact on the court.
Curry, though, remains confident in his teammate's ability to help the team.
Keep a positive spirit
Aside from his deadeye shooting, Curry is renowned for playing with joy. Whether his shot is going in or not, the all-time great almost always keeps it loose on the hardwood floor. And that's exactly what he wants Kuminga to emulate.
Despite the pressure and high expectations, Curry reminds his young teammate to keep a positive spirit throughout this rough patch.
"Really, the hardest part is, whether it’s going well or whether it’s not, (is) not losing your spirit," Curry stated during his media availability session. "That’s been JK’s challenge as a young player. Things change so quickly, and there’s all these declarations about who he is as a player, and does he fit, and all that type of stuff."
Although Kuminga has already won a championship in his four seasons in the league, he has yet to find his niche, partly because he's playing on a veteran-laden Warriors team whose system caters to Curry's otherworldly shooting ability. Another factor is his indecisiveness and tendency to look for his own shot rather than making the right play for the team.
However, as Curry mentioned, Kuminga must continue grinding as his next opportunity could be around the corner.
"We still have high hopes that he’ll impact our team this year," Curry remarked. "But it’s just an idea you can’t lose your spirit when things aren’t going your way, because you’re a game or two away from it coming right back to you."
"And if you’ve checked out, or if you’re still not engaged in the learning process, then you might miss your moment on the back end. So it is a back-and-forth, and it’s the responsibility of both sides. As a team, it’s our job to support him because we know he’s a great dude, a very talented player, (and) we still have belief that he can help us," he added.
Undetermined role
Heading to the 2025-26 season, the Warriors and their fans had high hopes that this would be Kuminga’s much-awaited breakthrough. However, after a solid start to the first four games, when he averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, he has reverted to old habits, leading Kerr to relegate him back to a reserve role.
"I think the hardest part is, every year, probably, as a young guy, multiple times a year, your role can change, kind of on the fly," Curry explained. "How do you adapt while maintaining your idea of who you are as a player? And also, what’s going to keep you around in this league, and what you can do to help a team win, (will you) get rewarded for that as you go through?"
Kuminga is in a tough spot. Apart from not knowing if he'll play or not, he still has to keep his head on straight and hope that more clarity is on the horizon. Whether he finds that in Golden State or some other locale remains to be seen.
Related: "Free JK" - Marc Spears believes it's time for the Warriors to trade Jonathan Kuminga
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
