Every young player aspires to be the franchise’s mainstay. Only a handful actually make it. However, within the Warriors, there’s still not a definitive centerpiece after Stephen Curry. Fans have blamed Steve Kerr for limiting young talent from becoming integral parts of the Warriors’ system. But the head coach never got the chance.

“I think you know part of the frustration of our fans probably stems from the fact that we have 3 lottery picks at a time when we were winning a championship. And it’s just hard to play 19-year-olds on championship teams,” Kerr said on 95.7 The Game.

Likewise, the competition to secure a rotation spot is stiff. Subsequently, Kerr feels that developing young stars on a championship team is much harder than anything else. He couldn’t just throw out Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody. The Warriors were expected to compete for championships.

During his time with Phil Jackson, Steve Kerr internalized a lasting lesson: “Grownups win championships,” his Bulls head coach once told him. Kerr has taken those words to heart, not out of doubt in young players’ abilities, but out of a belief that building their knowledge and embedding them in the team’s culture must come before handing them greater responsibilities.

For Kuminga, that philosophy translated into a frustrating cycle of inconsistent opportunities. Yet not all of Golden State’s young talent has shared his struggle. Moses Moody is enjoying a breakout season, having firmly established himself as a starter. Brandin Podziemski, meanwhile, has found his footing and grown into his role during Stephen Curry’s absence. Several other young players have also carved out spots in the Warriors’ rotation.

In many cases, injuries and the departure of core veterans opened those doors. But the handling of Jonathan Kuminga feels like a different story entirely — one that is difficult to justify, no matter the perspective.

The Warriors should have done better by Jonathan Kuminga

The Warriors’ divorce from Jonathan Kuminga didn’t sting until they knew what they had. Minutes into his debut with the Atlanta Hawks, JK showed out. He scored 27 while running the floor, grabbing rebounds, and seamlessly fitting in with a new group. The Warriors needed every bit of that.

Steve Kerr had several chances to repair the relationship, too. Kuminga signed an extension in the summer, showing trust in the front office and coaching staff. He also performed well at the start of the season before an injury sidelined him. And then Kerr never found a way to consistently involve the 23-year-old.

That didn’t change even after Jimmy Butler tore his ACL. JK picked up injuries at the wrong time. Or maybe he was driven to protest the treatment he had received over the years. Jonathan Kuminga was a dynamic talent sitting in the Warriors’ laps. They never chose to look at him with hope of being the franchise’s next star.

And now that time is gone. Integrating young players into a championship team is hard. But Steve Kerr had ample time with Jonathan Kuminga. It seemed like every young player, but JK got a fair chance to make mistakes and learn. With the Hawks, he has that freedom. And he has played energised basketball since he wore that jersey.

Maybe Kerr just didn’t see it. However, there’s no two ways about it. The Warriors and the head coach could have done so much more with Jonathan Kuminga.