When the Golden State Warriors stumbled into the early weeks of the season, no storyline hit harder than Steve Kerrâs shocking decision to remove Jonathan Kuminga from the starting lineup. It was a move that sparked debate across the league, ignited frustration inside the locker room, and raised questions about the Warriorsâ long-term direction. But what no one expected was the twist that followed â a twist driven not by analytics, not by front-office pressure, but by the relentless, unmistakable voice of Draymond Green.
According to team sources, it was Draymond who stepped forward and challenged Kerrâs thinking at a moment when the Warriors were desperate for identity. And it wasnât a heated argument, not a shouting match, not a meltdown like the ones Draymond has been known for. Instead, it was a calm, pointed conversation â the kind that only a seasoned leader who has seen dynasties built and rebuilt can deliver. What he said changed everything.
âHe told Kerr straight up: âWe cannot afford to lose Kumingaâs fire,ââ one source revealed. âHe said the kid brings something nobody else on this roster can replicate.â

Kerr had initially benched Kuminga in hopes of stabilizing the second unit and reducing defensive breakdowns. But the ripple effects were immediate: the Warriors looked slower, flatter, and increasingly dependent on Stephen Curry to carry them on both ends. Meanwhile, Kuminga â a player drafted for his athleticism, explosiveness, and raw potential â felt the sting of the demotion. His energy shifted. His aggression dipped. And the Warriors began to lose their edge.
Thatâs when Draymond stepped in.
Under the glare of the Chase Center lights during a private post-practice meeting, Draymond laid out a brutally honest assessment: the Warriors didnât just need Kuminga â they needed to empower him. With Klay Thompson inconsistent, Andrew Wiggins struggling, and the supporting cast unable to generate momentum, Kuminga was one of the few bright sparks left. Benching him, Draymond argued, was not a correction. It was a mistake.
And Kerr listened.
Within days of the conversation, subtle hints began to emerge: longer rotations for Kuminga during practice scrimmages, increased focus on sets built around his slashing ability, and a noticeable shift in Kerrâs tone when speaking to the media. âHeâs one of our most important young guys,â Kerr said, almost as if signaling to the fanbase: Yes, the plan is changing.
Then came the moment the league noticed â Kuminga was back in the starting lineup.

The Warriors immediately played with a different pulse. Kumingaâs speed in transition, his fearless drives to the rim, and the defensive pressure he applied gave Golden State a missing layer of physicality. Draymond, meanwhile, operated almost like a big brother on the floor, directing Kuminga into the right reads, encouraging him after mistakes, and celebrating even the smallest successes.
What made this turn even more dramatic was the timing. With pressure mounting, narratives swirling about the Warriorsâ decline, and critics insisting that the dynasty era was dead, Draymondâs intervention wasnât just about a lineup adjustment â it was a fight to preserve the soul of the franchise.
Inside the locker room, the message was clear: if the Warriors were going to rise again, they needed every weapon. And Jonathan Kuminga, despite his youth, inconsistency, and growing pains, is a weapon the Warriors cannot afford to waste.
As one veteran player said after the switch, âDraymond gave Kuminga his wings back.â
Itâs a storyline that reveals the complexities of leadership in a franchise built on championships â the push, the pull, the uncomfortable conversations, and the willingness to make changes when the season hangs in the balance. For the Warriors, this was more than just a rotation move. It was a declaration.
Draymond Green didnât just change Kerrâs mind. He may have changed the Warriorsâ season.
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