The Warriors’ best mid-season move might’ve just wrecked Jonathan Kuminga’s chances in Golden State. When Jimmy Butler showed up in February, Kuminga was nursing an ankle sprain—and the team evolved without him. Even after his return, Steve Kerr barely looked his way. Honestly, it feels like Kerr had already made up his mind. Kuminga’s now stuck behind Butler, Moody, GP2, Buddy Hield, and even Gui Santos. And with Butler playing 44 minutes a night? There’s barely any leftovers.

Remember that wild collapse back in November when the Warriors blew a 31-point lead to Houston without Steph? In the chaos, Kuminga had his breakout moment. He bulldozed Jalen Green, hit a slick turnaround, and flew in for a lefty layup like he owned the court.

Unless he does something like this again, he might play against the Rockets. Long term? Kuminga’s probably out. Kerr’s not holding minutes for a guy who hasn’t figured out how to click with Steph and Jimmy. The Warriors head coach didn’t mince words when discussing Jonathan Kuminga’s limited role during a recent appearance on Willard & Dibs.

“I have to read what we need. I have to read who’s playing well together,” Kerr said. “And to be very frank, the Jimmy / JK (Kuminga) combination has not been great and that’s the tricky part here.”

Kerr emphasized Butler’s value, even pointing to him as the biggest reason the Warriors clawed their way into the postseason. “And I’m playing Jimmy 40 minutes a night because Jimmy is, he’s one of the very best players in the league. And there’s a reason we’re here and we’re in the seventh seed… And the reason is Jimmy.”

Ultimately, Kerr made it clear that his decisions are about giving the Warriors the best shot at winning.

“So my job as a coach is to keep the team on a path that I think gives us the best chance to win. And for now, that’s why I’ve been leaning into the lineups that I have.” Kerr said, leaving no room for misinterpretation about where Kuminga stands in the playoff rotation.

But while Kerr doubled down on his present strategy, a national voice hinted at a very different long-term picture. The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami didn’t mince words on the same show, suggesting, “The likely situation is [Jonathan Kuminga]’s not going to be on the Warriors next season. Things can change, but all things being equal, it was probably going to be a tricky situation for him to come back to the Warriors anyway…I don’t know that he’s going to be galloping to sign a new deal with the Warriors given all this.”

After Kawakami hinted at a likely split this summer, there’s added weight when you remember this isn’t the first sign of a fracture.

Contract negotiations had already hit a wall before the season tipped off. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Kuminga was reportedly eyeing a $35 million average annual salary. The Warriors, however, weren’t prepared to go beyond the $30 million range. The two sides couldn’t bridge the gap before the October 21 deadline, setting Kuminga up to enter restricted free agency in 2025.

So, if you’re wondering whether this is just a playoff rotation issue, the money talks say otherwise. But hold on, the drama goes deeper.

NBA Analyst baffled by Steve Kerr’s decision

Zach Lowe didn’t hold back on The Lowe Post, calling Jonathan Kuminga’s sudden benching in the Warriors’ most crucial game “an all-time like ‘Whoa.’” His confusion echoed a larger conversation—why would Golden State sideline one of its most explosive young players when the stakes were at their highest?

Instead of turning to Kuminga, Steve Kerr leaned into a lineup featuring Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Gary Payton II—three non-shooters in a game where spacing was critical. Lowe criticized the decision, questioning Kerr’s approach to Kuminga’s development over the years. He even suggested it might have fractured their trust, though he admitted restricted free agency could still keep the two sides tied together.

And it didn’t stop there. Kuminga remained benched in the next game, a play-in win over Memphis, making it two straight DNPs. ESPN’s Shams Charania later reported that Kuminga’s camp is “exhausted” by what they see as repeated signs of disrespect.

Now, the Warriors face a fast, athletic Rockets squad in the first round—exactly the kind of matchup Kuminga thrives in. He averaged 21.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists against Houston this season, his second-best mark against any team.

Still, Kerr has kept him sidelined. And with a high-stakes series on the line and a rising star glued to the bench, the situation feels less like strategy and more like a breaking point.