Kuminga was more focused on Year 4 growth than Warriors extension originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Kuminga hopes he will sign a contract extension with the Warriors, but the fourth-year forward’s focus is elsewhere as the 2024-25 NBA season approaches.
The 2021 NBA Draft lottery pick is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and while he was officially able to begin negotiations with Golden State in July, the Warriors and Kuminga have yet to reach an agreement. Regardless of where things end up, however, the 21-year-old made it clear on Monday that his only dedication is to make an impact on the court this season.
“Hopefully. God only knows,” Kuminga — rocking a new white-blonde buzz — said during Warriors Media Day at Chase Center when asked if a contract would be done in the next month. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s going to be good, but that’s not my concern. Like I said, I’m just happy to be here, happy to start a new season, a fourth year, and things are going to take care of themselves.
“I would love to have it, but I don’t really care about it. If I get it, if I don’t, it’s great. I’ll still be me. I’ll just go out and perform. But that’s not a problem.”
It’s three weeks until Kuminga’s October 21 extension deadline, and the young pro is said to be seeking a maximum five-year, $224 million contract. Otherwise, he will enter restricted free agency next July. The same goes for Kuminga’s teammate and fellow 2021 classmate Moses Moody.
Kuminga has been busy becoming more of a “complete player” this summer, honing his shooting skills through intense offseason workouts that caught the attention of Dub Nation online.
For Kuminga, the work is done with one goal in mind.
“Just to have a great season,” Kuminga said. “The better I play, the more helpful it is to our team, to everybody’s success. I’m just looking to go out there and just do my best and just help us win as many games as possible.
“Maybe looking at the bigger picture, everybody probably wants to win a championship, things like that, but it’s too early to say that. That’s pretty much my goal, just looking forward to going out there and sharing the court with the new players that we just got, with some of the guys that have been here for a long time, and just having a great season.”
Kuminga made a major year 3 jump during 2023-24 season, average 16.1 points on 52.9 percent shooting with 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. He appeared in 74 contests and started 46 of them, and his odds of making coach Steve Kerr’s starting lineup this year are high.
Now in Year 4, Kuminga is at her best exactly what the Warriors need after the departure of Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks, and the inability of the team to sign stars like Lauri Markkanen and Paul George that offseason. Kuminga’s minutes — and stats — have risen steadily over the past three years, but sources told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole the Warriors don’t want to reach a max contract no matter how much. they want to keep him.
“Yeah, we’re working on it with them and their representation right now,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters Thursday about negotiations with Kuminga and Moody. “We’ve got a couple more weeks. Good, positive conversations, without getting into too much detail. I think regardless of whether we do something or not, we want those guys here.”
So, Kuminga’s fourth year could feature him playing with the luxury of having signed a lucrative new contract. Or, he could have one more full season to prove he’s really worth the cash.
After enjoying what he described as one of the best summers of his life, Kuminga comes into whatever situation awaits him with some refined skills on the court, and a better sense of himself off it.
“My game, knowing things I like to do besides playing basketball, learning more about the job,” Kuminga said of his self-improvement efforts this summer. “Once you’re too stuck in basketball, you can’t do different things. So just enjoy just traveling, going to different fashion shows, and just meeting new people. And obviously my new look. That’s pretty much it.”
Kuminga enjoyed the best statistical campaign of his young career last season, though it had its fair share of ups and downs. Now, he and his new hairdo will look to build on that success — with or without a payday.
“I’m itching, can’t wait,” Kuminga said. “I’m very excited, looking forward to it. It’s going to be a great season. So I just can’t wait to get started.”
