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.