Stephen Curry’s Impact On Jonathan Kuminga’s Playing Time
Stephen Curry's Impact On Jonathan Kuminga's Playing Time
Stephen Curry’s impact on the Golden State Warriors goes well beyond his jaw-dropping shooting. He’s quietly been a force in shaping rotation decisions with coach Steve Kerr.
Back in April 2025, some reports swirled that Curry had a hand in Jonathan Kuminga‘s reduced minutes. Apparently, he recommended Gui Santos to close out some big games instead.
This all unfolded not long after Curry’s 52-point outburst against Memphis—arguably the Warriors’ wildest game of the season. Kuminga missed that one with an injury, which only added to the intrigue around the team’s choices.
The Warriors’ playoff chase has made their rotation decisions a hot topic. Kuminga has certainly flashed his upside—remember that 18-point, nine-rebound, four-assist game against the Lakers with zero turnovers?
Still, the coaching staff keeps tinkering. Their recent wins over Western Conference heavyweights like Denver and the Clippers have coincided with all these lineup tweaks, so the spotlight’s only gotten brighter on how they handle their young core.
Steph Curry on Jonathan Kuminga: “He’s Figuring Out”
Stephen Curry’s stepped up to defend Kuminga as the noise around the young forward’s development grows louder. After the Warriors handled the Nuggets 118-104, Curry sounded a bit exasperated with the constant nitpicking.
“We need to kind of just let this guy play basketball,” Curry said, not hiding his annoyance. He pointed out the pressure people keep putting on Kuminga, saying the team doesn’t need “a declaration after every game” about his play.
Kuminga’s spot in the rotation has become a bit of a saga as Steve Kerr keeps shuffling the deck before the postseason. In that Nuggets game, Kuminga logged 18 minutes—six points, 3-for-9 shooting, not much else in the box score.
Things got even more interesting when Curry reportedly asked Kerr to close with Gui Santos instead of Kuminga. Santos didn’t score in his 11 minutes, but his stat line wasn’t empty:
- 3 rebounds
- 2 assists
- 1 steal
- +5 plus/minus
Santos has actually been sneaky good in the efficiency stats—he’s fifth on the team with a +165 plus/minus for the season. Only a handful of Warriors regulars are above him:
| Player | Plus/Minus |
|---|---|
| Steph Curry | +299 |
| Draymond Green | +275 |
| Brandin Podziemski | +259 |
| Jimmy Butler | +188 |
| Gui Santos | +165 |
Curry’s still backing Kuminga‘s growth, though. He’s made it clear: if the Warriors want to win big, Kuminga’s got to be in the mix.
Warriors Need Jonathan Kuminga Now More Than Ever
The Golden State Warriors find themselves at a critical juncture where Jonathan Kuminga’s role has suddenly gained immense importance.
After being excluded from the rotation for three consecutive games, circumstances have changed dramatically for the young forward.
Kuminga’s absence from the lineup began during the regular-season finale against the Clippers. Coach Steve Kerr opted for a nine-player rotation that excluded both Kuminga and Gui Santos.
This decision wasn’t necessarily permanent, as Kerr explained. It was more about the specific matchup that night.
The coaching staff’s strategic choice made sense considering the Clippers’ defensive scheme, which specifically targets ball-dominant players like Kuminga.
Despite his exclusion in what turned out to be a thrilling overtime loss, the Warriors displayed one of their most impressive performances of the season.
While Santos managed to find his way back into the rotation during the play-in victory against Memphis and the first two playoff games against Houston, Kuminga remained sidelined.
It wasn’t until Jimmy Butler’s injury in Game 2 that Kerr had no choice but to bring Kuminga back into the fold.
Key Factors in Kuminga’s Return:
- Butler’s injury creating an immediate need
- Kuminga’s energy off the bench impressing Steph Curry
- The young forward’s ability to stay ready despite limited playing time
With Butler’s availability for Game 3 still in question, Kuminga’s role becomes increasingly vital.
The Warriors will likely need his athleticism, scoring ability, and defensive versatility to maintain their competitive edge against the Rockets.
Kuminga’s challenge now is to find his rhythm quickly after the extended absence. Working alongside veterans like Draymond Green could help accelerate this process, especially if Green recovers fully from his ankle injury.
The Warriors’ championship aspirations may now partially rest on how effectively Kuminga can step into an expanded role.
His development throughout the season has prepared him for this moment, but playoff intensity represents a different challenge altogether.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
