How Steph’s Olympics show ‘inspirational’ Kuminga heading into a vital season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The upcoming 2024-25 NBA season is a big one for Jonathan Kuminga. It’s his fourth year with the Warriors, who will soon have to make a decision about extending their 2021 first-round pick.
With training camp less than two weeks away, Kuminga has highlighted how Steph Curry’s incredible display at the 2024 Paris Olympics has inspired him as he enters a pivotal campaign.
“If you see one of the oldest guys in the NBA — on your team — still producing at that level, you might as well be inspired,” Kuminga told Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show” by Audacy. “You have to be inspired, and you have to follow in his footsteps, and you have to watch him. And I was just inspired to be great. It inspired the whole team to help him, and I think that’s the goal this year for sure. .”
Golden State clearly wants to capitalize on the 36-year-old’s remaining years as an elite NBA player, especially Kuminga.
“I always appreciate just watching him, sharing time on the court with him and just being around,” Kuminga explained. “Seeing him do what he’s doing at his age is incredible.”
Perhaps that added inspiration will benefit Kuminga as he looks to continue his NBA development; after all, he’s meant to be one of the Warriors’ cornerstone players as the team transitions into its next post-Curry era.
Kuminga told Kawakami that he feels like a “complete player” as he looks to settle into a small forward role for the Warriors. Separately, the versatile 21-year-old detailed his increased confidence as a 3-point shooter.
“I just can’t wait to go out there and just show people what I’ve been working on,” Kuminga said. “It’s always been my thing to just work on certain things and get better. And I tend to shoot the three, I’ve gotten a lot better at shooting.“
The Warriors’ training camp begins Oct. 1 in Hawaii, when Kuminga will finally get the chance to showcase his offseason improvements.
