SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Kuminga is happy to get his new contract finished, but his future with the Golden State Warriors remains unclear.
Speaking for the first time since signing a two-year, $48.5 million contract, Kuminga was glad to have a contentious summer of negotiations behind him.
“It’s part of what we do,” he said Thursday of the protracted negotiations that bled into the start of the season. “It’s a business. At the end of the day, all that matters is we got it done, and I’m excited to be here.”
Kuminga’s deal, which includes a team option for next season and leaves open the possibility for him to be traded later in the season, guarantees him life-changing money. But his answers on Thursday didn’t exactly give off the type of celebratory feeling that many contract extension announcements usually do.
When asked if he wanted to be with the Warriors long term, Kuminga’s initial answer offered doubt.
“I’m here now,” he said.
After taking a brief pause, he continued his answer. “That’s everybody’s goal to be somewhere for longer. You never know (how) your future will be determined, but so far I think that’s my goal and that’s what I want to accomplish, just being here for long.”
Kuminga said he was able to learn more about himself as he spoke with other teams during his summer as a restricted free agent, calling the process a “great experience.”
As for whether he believes the Warriors want him for the future, Kuminga sounded at least outwardly hopeful that he could remain with the team that drafted him in 2021, for a while longer.
“I would say so,” he said. “Based on me being back here. At the end of the day, let’s see where this takes us. But my focus is this year pushing and actually helping us win. You never know what’s gonna happen, but I’m glad to be back. I was with some of my teammates today, and most of them, all of them, were happy to see me back here, so let’s see where this takes us.”
The 22-year-old Kuminga, who has the words “Think positively” tattooed on the side of his right hand, was candid when asked what he would say to a portion of the Warriors’ fan base who may have supported him early in his career but questioned whether he wanted to be with the organization moving forward.
“I feel like a lot of the fans get in their feelings so much,” Kuminga said. “And it’s mostly not the ones that actually (are) at the game. It’s the ones that just (are) home on Twitter, TikTok, on social media. The actual ones that come here every other day and support us, they’re like the real MVPs. But the ones that just (are) home every day, don’t know what’s going on.
“They’re not even reading what’s happening and just go out there and just say whatever. That’s what they love to do. I don’t have a problem with that, but the real me, the people I talk to, the front office, my coaches, they know what’s happening. They know how committed I am to this team and what I want to accomplish, so I think that’s all that matters to be.”
Kuminga was asked about comments his agent, Aaron Turner, made during various media interviews in recent weeks. Specifically, the assertion Turner made that Kuminga wouldn’t have a place to become the player he wants, given the current state of the Warriors’ veteran-laden roster. So what type of player does Kuminga want to be?
“Someone that wants to be impactful,” Kuminga said. “Contributing to success, to winning, and I think nobody’s coming to the gym every other day and not thinking about winning a championship. … I’m going into my fifth year. I know what I want and I know what I don’t want.”
What Warriors coach Steve Kerr wants from Kuminga is simple, at least regarding the young forward’s ongoing improvement. Kerr said Wednesday that he wanted to see Kuminga defend, rebound and run the floor this season. For his part, Kuminga seems confident he’s ready to take another step in his game.
“I need to mark my name as somebody who helped this team win a championship,” Kuminga said. “And I think that’s what we’re all here for.”
Kuminga, who switched his jersey number for the season from No. 00 to No. 1, participated in about half of the Warriors’ Wednesday scrimmage after missing Tuesday’s first practice. What remains to be seen is exactly what Kuminga’s role looks like moving forward. Does he believe a similar role as he had last season would be a sacrifice?
“I wouldn’t consider it as a sacrifice,” Kuminga said. “And I don’t think it’s going to happen, I don’t think it’s going to be that. Just whatever happens, happens, but as long as I know every day I’m coming in for a reason to just compete and put myself in the best situation that I can to help this team win.”
(Photo: Cary Edmondson / Imagn Images)