Former Players Blame Steve Kerr and Warriors After Jonathan Kuminga Demands a Trade

Jonathan Kuminga is reportedly at odds with Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr as the trade deadline looms.

Former Players Blame Steve Kerr and Warriors After Jonathan Kuminga Demands a Trade

Jonathan Kuminga and HC Steve Kerr (Image via FirstSportz)

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Entering this season, it was believed that Steve Kerr would find a role that would enable the Golden State Warriors to exploit the skills Jonathan Kuminga brought to the table.

The 6′ 7″ guard can score, drive to the basket, and also defend the perimeter. Those skills helped the team open the season with a 4-2 record in October.

Since then, senior players have been seemingly pointing fingers at his drive and motivation, as the team struggled to win games in November.

In December and January, they managed to record a winning run, but the 23-year-old was not part of it, as he has missed 16 of the team’s 17 games. Now, this dry run has led Jonathan Kuminga to demand a trade out of the Bay Area.

He swept the Kevin Durant thing under the rug, he swept the Jordan Poole thing under the rug, I think he swept the Klay Thompson thing under too. So we are looking at a coach that is supposed to be top 15 coach of all time. If you are a great coach, why is 1 player on your team uncoachable? I see why Mike (Michael Jordan) put his hands on you.

Rashad McCants said on Gil’s Arena

This was former NBA star Rashad McCants, who believes this entire mess with the fifth-year star out of high school is all Steve Kerr’s fault. Over the years, the head coach has proved that he cannot handle turmoil, and is doing so again with Jonathan Kuminga.

Kendrick Perkins believes Warriors haven’t been the same since Bob Myers left

The situation concerning Jonathan Kuminga has reached a point where questions are arising about how the Golden State Warriors run their roster.

Draymond Green with Jonathan Kuminga
Draymond Green with Jonathan Kuminga (Image via Legion Hoops/X)

Since Bob Myers has left that organization, it has been nothing but dysfunctional… I’m starting to question their player development.

Kendrick Perkins said on NBA Today

The former NBA champion followed the line Rashad McCants drew in the sand, with questions about how the organization handled Klay Thompson‘s departure, among others.

Kendrick Perkins then questioned if the franchise had thought about their future. With Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler on the wrong side of 30, the analyst believes the team needs to infuse its young players now.

If they lose the DR Congo native to another team, the former center felt that the Warriors are undermining their future, as they would need a succession plan after Curry and his fellow veterans leave the game.

With the dearth of top-tier talent later in the draft, Perkins wants the franchise to figure out a way to bring Jonathan Kuminga back into the roster, either as a starter or a role player.

Steve Kerr revealed all is good with Jonathan Kuminga

As the Golden State Warriors got together at Chase Center to play against the New York Knicks, reporters went to the media room to ask Steve Kerr about his relationship with Jonathan Kuminga amidst the trade demand.

Our relationship is fine… It is a difficult situation for everybody.

Steve Kerr replied

The 60-year-old was extremely cagey in response and continued to hammer home the point that he did not want to speak much about the trade situation.

Even when reporters tried to probe and ask if he had any opinion about the trade, Kerr smilingly shut down those questions by insinuating that it was none of the reporters’ business.

His mannerisms and answer indicates that tensions are high within the walls of Chase Center. For the sake of their season, they have to find a solution for their seventh-overall pick.

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