With Draymond Green serving an indefinite suspension, Jonathan Kuminga will likely step into the Golden State Warriors starting lineup. The third-year forward has been impressive this season, providing energy, size and athleticism from the bench. Now, Kuminga will test himself against starting-level NBA talent on a nightly basis.
According to Shams Charania on a recent episode of FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” Kuminga could secure a role in the starting lineup, forcing Green to come off the bench when he does return to Golden State’s rotation.
“There’s a sense around the Golden State Warriors, and there’s a sense around the basketball community, that you want these guys, Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, to just ride off into the sunset,” Charania said. “I think Steve Kerr has been a guy that wants to give them every opportunity to do it. You have to make the best decision for the organization, and that means going with Jonathan Kuminga moving forward.”
Green, a four-time NBA champion, could be better served by moving into a bench role. At 33 years old, Green could make a significant impact as an orchestrator and connector off the bench while allowing Kuminga to continue developing toward being an All-Star-level talent.
"You have to make the best decision for the organization, and that means going with Jonathan Kuminga moving forward." @ShamsCharania
"Is there a world in which he keeps that spot even when Draymond [Green] comes back?" @MichelleDBeadle
"1000%" @ShamsCharania
📺:… pic.twitter.com/LGPoykSbwg
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 14, 2023
Kuminga has a golden opportunity to prove he can make an impact as a member of the starting lineup. If he can produce at a high level and perform consistently, there’s a legitimate chance his spot in the starting lineup becomes permanent, regardless of when Green returns.
