Why Was Jonathan Kuminga Benched in a Crucial Game?
The Golden State Warriors were outclassed by the LA Clippers in a high-stakes showdown on April 13th. A lot was on the line that night—a win would have secured the Dubs a guaranteed playoff spot, while a loss meant they’d be forced into the Play-In Tournament. A five-point overtime defeat was a gut punch for Dub Nation, mainly as fans questioned the benching of rising star Jonathan Kuminga. The decision was surprising, to say the least, and head coach Steve Kerr made some intriguing comments following the game.
Kuminga had been playing the best basketball of his young career before suffering a significant right ankle injury that sidelined him for 31 games. In the 15 games before his injury, he averaged an impressive 20.4 points and six rebounds per game, including three 30-point performances. Two of those came in back-to-back 34-point outbursts against the Clippers and the Phoenix Suns. At that point, his spot in the rotation was unquestioned, but things have shifted since his return—especially with the mid-season acquisition of Jimmy Butler, which has dramatically altered the team dynamic.
Since Butler’s arrival, the Warriors have become a different team, thanks in large part to his elite two-way presence. However, Kuminga’s lack of consistent outside shooting has created spacing issues when he's on the floor alongside Butler, who isn’t known for his three-point shot either. This appears to be a key reason why Kuminga was listed as a DNP, Did Not Play, in Sunday’s game, as Kerr opted for a tighter nine-man rotation. Jimmy Butler logged a grueling 48 minutes, making it difficult to carve out time for Kuminga. Notably, Gui Santos—another impactful player off the bench—also didn’t see any minutes. After the game, Kerr addressed the decision, stating, “Both he and JK have been impactful players for us, and it doesn’t mean they are out of the loop moving forward. This is how this game played out.”
This isn't the first time Kuminga has found himself in a complicated rotation situation. Since last season, as his minutes increased, he and Andrew Wiggins initially struggled to find offensive chemistry. It took time and patience, but Kerr stuck with the pairing, and over time, they became more effective together. The current scenario is even more complex, given the urgency of a playoff push and limited time to build new chemistry. That’s what makes Kerr’s decision all the more interesting as we approach the next few games. As the coach made clear, Kuminga is still very much part of the team’s plans, and his name could be called as soon as tomorrow night in a pivotal game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Certainly, Jonathan Kuminga is too good of a basketball player to be left out of the rotation for long. The benching of Jonathan Kuminga in such a high-stakes game raised eyebrows across the Warriors fanbase—and understandably so. With his proven ability to make an impact, the decision highlights the challenges of integrating new talent mid-season and balancing rotations during a playoff push. Steve Kerr’s remarks suggest that Kuminga's story this season is far from over.
As the Warriors prepare for another crucial matchup, all eyes will be on the coaching decisions—and whether Kuminga gets another chance to shine when it matters most. His presence on the floor could provide a needed spark, especially if the team is looking to regain offensive rhythm or defensive intensity. For now, Dub Nation will have to wait and see how Kerr manages the rotation. However, one thing is clear: Kuminga's talent is too valuable to remain sidelined for long.
