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Steve Kerr doesn’t negotiate roles: Jonathan Kuminga has to earn his spot like everyone else

Steve Kerr makes it clear

Steve Kerr doesn’t negotiate roles Jonathan Kuminga has to earn his spot like everyone else
Steve Kerr doesn’t negotiate roles Jonathan Kuminga has to earn his spot like everyone else

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The Golden State Warriors haven’t had a quiet preseason, and Jonathan Kuminga has been right in the middle of the buzz. His restricted free agency situation raised questions about his focus and commitment. But Steve Kerr stepped in quickly to settle things. In comments cited by EssentiallySports, the coach made it clear. There’s no room for distractions, and every player must earn their place on the court.

Steve Kerr addressed the issue on the TK Show, downplaying the impact of the contract dispute. “This kind of thing happens all the time in the NBA,” he said, referring to what Jonathan Kuminga went through. The forward had requested a player option as a goodwill gesture. But until the deal was finalized, his situation disrupted the team’s routine. Kerr didn’t dramatize it. What matters now, he said, is that the issue is resolved and Kuminga can focus on basketball.

Nothing guarantees minutes

The deal Jonathan Kuminga signed—two years for $48.5 million, with a team option and trade kicker—gives him financial security and provides flexibility for the franchise. But that doesn’t guarantee playing time. Steve Kerr was blunt. “It may not have been the contract he wanted, but it’s a lot of money, and it’s life-changing money.” What doesn’t change, according to the coach, is the demand to compete and perform.

Steve Kerr’s message to the locker room is crystal clear. No one has a guaranteed role—not even Jonathan Kuminga. “What everyone deserves is clarity,” the coach said, emphasizing that his decisions are based on what the team needs to win. Besides, from rotations to minutes, everything is determined by performance, not reputation or salary.

A locker room full of stars

Jonathan Kuminga, for his part, seems willing to adapt. In a locker room led by stars like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the young forward has a chance to grow with guidance and high expectations. Besides, Steve Kerr understands that, which is why he insists that resilience and the ability to push through tough moments matter just as much as raw talent.

The Warriors’ history is full of players who earned their place from the ground up. Steve Kerr recalled examples like Green and Jimmy Butler, who went from late draft picks to award-winning leaders. Now Jonathan Kuminga has the chance to write his own chapter. In Kerr’s Warriors, talent opens the door—but commitment decides who stays.

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