It’s been six games since the Golden State Warriors became home to Jimmy Butler. The Bay has only lost one game since. The introduction of the ravishing star has transformed the Warriors altogether. Their confidence is oozing and the contributions of Butler are reaping lovely results. It’s almost so good that fans might forget the Warriors still have a weapon to unleash. Jonathan Kuminga is walking close to being back on the floor.
Kuminga was a force to reckon with before his severe ankle sprain. He assumed a major offensive load at a time Stephen Curry was having some difficulties. Sadly, the ankle sprain has forced him out for a long duration. But it won’t be long before Kuminga does return to Kerr’s rotations.
“On Thursday, Kuminga did a two-on-two, really like, it was his real first hard workout, at least in a somewhat contact setting in a two-on-two. They gave him Friday off, because they really pushed his body. Yesterday, Saturday, the first time he had live scrimmage, full contact, five-on-five against a lot of their young guys, you know, G League, that type of stuff. So, that’s a big step,” Anthony Slater noted on Warriors Plus Minus.
Dec 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (left) and guard Gabe Vincent (right) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
But although Kuminga has made incredible progress, even playing some full-throttle five-on-five, the Warriors aren’t in a hurry. There are several reasons for this. For one, it was a complex injury where the thunderous forward even “experienced some swelling” during his recovery phase. But mainly, the Warriors want to skip past Jonathan Kuminga slowly integrating himself into game shape.
“They want him to hit the ground running,” Slater added. “It doesn’t feel that urgent right now, the way they’re playing, that they’ve got to get him back in on Tuesday against the Hornets. So I think they’re being maybe slightly overly cautious on it, but it’s a tough injury, and I do think they want Jonathan coming in to really feel like himself when they drop him back in this type of environment,”.
And the strategy does bode well. With Butler, the Warriors have somebody who replicates Kuminga’s impact. The former Heat star gets to the line regularly and compliments the shooting lineup well by being a looming threat inside the arc. Moreover, the Warriors might be better by getting a fully healthy Kuminga into the mix.
Slow and steady might win the race for the Warriors
Why change something that’s working so well? That’s the phrase I would use to support the Warriors’ patient handling of Jonathan Kuminga. Over the past five games, Jimmy Butler has managed to seamlessly fit into the Warriors’ system. It doesn’t seem like he joined the team at the trade deadline.
And it has amounted to them winning games, and with some comfort.
The Warriors have beaten both the Kings and the Mavericks by 20+ points. In those games, Butler has been crucial and the rotations are functioning extremely well. However, with Kuminga comes a challenge. Because he plays similarly to how Jimmy Butler does, Steve Kerr will mark that as a major adjustment to be made.
On paper, it doesn’t seem like they both can start together although Kuminga was shooting the ball with great precision before his injury. Understandably, having both of them co-exist will take some time. A friendly schedule allows for the Warriors to get in the lab and test out various combinations.
With Kuminga doing contact scrimmages, it’s only a matter of time before he joins the first team. Kerr would prefer experimenting with those practice runs and finding a smooth rotation. It gives the nine-time champion some sample to study. Until then, the Warriors have proven they have enough.
After a homestand against the Hornets, the Warriors go on a five-game road trip. There, the only top opponent they are slated to face as the New York Knicks. And as per Slater’s prediction, the team could eye a return during this trip. They will back themselves to win against a resurging Orlando Magic and a stumbling 76ers team with the personnel they have.
However, with a big game against the Knicks, that’s where they might need Jonathan Kuminga. Hence, when they face the Hornets again on the road, that could be the game the 22-year-old makes his return from injury. It gives him a preparation game for a contest against a title contender. It also gives the Warriors a fully healthy and prepped roster to face the Big Apple.
There could be a change in plans depending on how well Kuminga adapts to the changed roster. But the Warriors should be in no hurry to bring him back in.
The post Unreleased Details on Jonathan Kuminga’s Severe Injury Emerge as National Reporter Confirms Warriors Real Stance appeared first on EssentiallySports.