Golden State Warriors rookie Jonathan Kuminga recently saw a larger role on the court and the seventh pick didn’t disappoint with Draymond Green out of the lineup.
Green was sidelined for the Warriors’ recent four-game road trip and is expected to miss much of the next two weeks due to a calf and back injury. With Green injured, the team turned more to Kuminga and the 19-year-old responded.
Kuminga is averaging 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists over his last three games, including a 25-point performance on Friday. He was inactive for the Warriors in two games prior to the road trip but he has now entered the rotation and is contributing at a high level.
Andrew Wiggins explained what has allowed him to play well as of late.
He is believing in himself. When he does that, no one can stop him. He is physically god-gifted with his strength, athletic ability, quickness and his ability to play basketball. He is a smart, young player, aggressive and a hell of a defender. He is coming into his own and it is good to see because he is a good kid.
Kuminga entered the NBA draft oozing potential given his physical tools and athleticism on the court. The team has yet to find consistent playing time for him given its veteran-heavy roster but Kuminga has played well in spurts throughout the season.
Of course, Kuminga is still a rookie and has had mistakes along the way but that is all part of the learning process for him. The team has given him the chance to play through those mistakes at times and he has responded well with constructive feedback.
The team knew Kuminga would play sporadically. However, with injuries and other factors, they knew there could be opportunities for him to play and it appears he is the next man up. The upcoming stretch should be an important one for him but he looks to be ready for the challenge.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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