Wed Oct 30 04:18:45 UTC 2024: ## Warriors Bench Kuminga Amidst Contract Uncertainty
**San Francisco, CA** – In a surprising move, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr opted to bench forward Jonathan Kuminga for Tuesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The decision comes as Kuminga enters his fourth season with the Warriors, with contract negotiations for an extension currently stalled.
The move follows the absence of star players Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins due to injury, requiring the Warriors to replace two starting spots. Kerr chose to start Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, and Brandin Podziemski alongside Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis, sending Kuminga to the bench.
Kuminga, who is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason, acknowledged the decision stating, “It’s not my decision. This is my fourth year. Not the first time things like that happened.”
He added, “It’s his decision. I’m not the coach. If Steve’s made his decision, he’s made his decision. I’m not the coach.”
While Kuminga expressed that he is “not tripping” about the benching, sources close to him have expressed skepticism about Kerr’s commitment to making Kuminga a key piece of the Warriors’ offense. This skepticism arises amidst the lack of progress on a contract extension, raising concerns about the Warriors’ long-term plans for the young forward.
Kuminga has struggled to find his footing this season, averaging just 8.0 points per game through three games, with a dismal shooting percentage of 33.3% from the field and 11.1% from three-point range.
The benching decision, coupled with the contract stalemate, has sparked speculation about Kuminga’s future with the Warriors. It remains to be seen how this move will affect his role in the team moving forward.
First Piper 