PORTLAND, Ore. — In the locker room following the Warriors’ season-opening romp over the Portland Trail Blazers, Jonathan Kuminga downplayed any concerns that his approach to the game could be impacted by not reaching a contract extension deal before the season.
“No, I don’t think so,” Kuminga told this news organization. “And I feel like that’s how people are looking at it. It’s not that. It does not change at all. This is definitely another big year for me to go out there and be great. That’s all I’m hoping for, to go out there and have a good impact, help us win.”
Kuminga, 22, is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He and the Warriors never made much progress on an extension before last Monday’s deadline, per sources. The team prizes in-season flexibility to make a trade and Kuminga could earn a major payday by taking another leap in his fourth year.
“No thoughts,” Kuminga said when asked for his reaction to not striking a deal. “If it didn’t happen, it didn’t happen. I’m here, playing basketball. If it wasn’t going to happen, it wasn’t going to happen. It’s something that’s in the past already, I’m not concerned about it as much. I’m focusing on the main goal right now, which is performing and helping us win.”
Last season, Kuminga averaged 16.1 points per game, a significant increase over the previous year. He was among the league’s best players in transition and getting downhill, ranking in the 88th percentile at rim scoring at his position, per Cleaning The Glass.
Between December and February last season, Kuminga scored in double figures for 34 consecutive games.
In the Warriors’ blowout win over the Blazers on Wednesday, Kuminga struggled. Two of his three fouls came on charges, and he finished with 10 points in 20 minutes. He was the only Warriors without a positive plus-minus.
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Golden State started Kuminga at small forward, his preferred position, and played 12 players in its main rotation. Using so many players requires sacrifice and buy-in up and down the roster, and players entering free agency are not incentivized to play unselfishly as stat increases could lead to bigger contracts. Kuminga isn’t worried about that.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said not reaching an extension doesn’t affect how the organization views Kuminga, and it shouldn’t change the wing’s mindset.
“I think that approach is up to him,” Dunleavy said. “That’s his call. But I think ultimately, the most important thing is he has a great season. And that should be his only focus. That should be the focus whether he got the extension or not. And so it’s pretty simple and straightforward to me. His motivation shouldn’t change.”