signing a two-year, $48.5 million contract<\/a>, Kuminga was glad to have a contentious summer of negotiations behind him.<\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s part of what we do,\u201d he said Thursday of the protracted negotiations that bled into the start of the season. \u201cIt\u2019s a business. At the end of the day, all that matters is we got it done, and I\u2019m excited to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kuminga\u2019s 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\u2019t exactly give off the type of celebratory feeling that many contract extension announcements usually do.<\/p>\n
When asked if he wanted to be with the Warriors long term, Kuminga\u2019s initial answer offered doubt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
After taking a brief pause, he continued his answer. \u201cThat\u2019s everybody\u2019s goal to be somewhere for longer. You never know (how) your future will be determined, but so far I think that\u2019s my goal and that\u2019s what I want to accomplish, just being here for long.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201cgreat experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say so,\u201d he said. \u201cBased on me being back here. At the end of the day, let\u2019s see where this takes us. But my focus is this year pushing and actually helping us win. You never know what\u2019s gonna happen, but I\u2019m 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\u2019s see where this takes us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old Kuminga, who has the words \u201cThink positively\u201d tattooed on the side of his right hand, was candid when asked what he would say to a portion of the Warriors\u2019 fan base who may have supported him early in his career but questioned whether he wanted to be with the organization moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like a lot of the fans get in their feelings so much,\u201d Kuminga said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s mostly not the ones that actually (are) at the game. It\u2019s 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\u2019re like the real MVPs. But the ones that just (are) home every day, don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not even reading what\u2019s happening and just go out there and just say whatever. That\u2019s what they love to do. I don\u2019t have a problem with that, but the real me, the people I talk to, the front office, my coaches, they know what\u2019s happening. They know how committed I am to this team and what I want to accomplish, so I think that\u2019s all that matters to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019t have a place to become the player he wants, given the current state of the Warriors\u2019 veteran-laden roster. So what type of player does Kuminga want to be?<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone that wants to be impactful,\u201d Kuminga said. \u201cContributing to success, to winning, and I think nobody\u2019s coming to the gym every other day and not thinking about winning a championship. \u2026 I\u2019m going into my fifth year. I know what I want and I know what I don\u2019t want.\u201d<\/p>\n
What Warriors coach Steve Kerr wants from Kuminga is simple, at least regarding the young forward\u2019s 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\u2019s ready to take another step in his game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to mark my name as somebody who helped this team win a championship,\u201d Kuminga said. \u201cAnd I think that\u2019s what we\u2019re all here for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kuminga, who switched his jersey number for the season from No. 00 to No. 1, participated in about half of the Warriors\u2019 Wednesday scrimmage after missing Tuesday\u2019s first practice. What remains to be seen is exactly what Kuminga\u2019s role looks like moving forward. Does he believe a similar role as he had last season would be a sacrifice?<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t consider it as a sacrifice,\u201d Kuminga said. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to happen, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to be that. Just whatever happens, happens, but as long as I know every day I\u2019m coming in for a reason to just compete and put myself in the best situation that I can to help this team win.\u201d<\/p>\n
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