Few role players in today’s NBA attract the kind of spotlight Jonathan Kuminga does, and on Sunday night, that spotlight turned blisteringly harsh. In a stunning twist that sent shockwaves through Warriors fandom, the explosive young forward didn’t play a single minute in Golden State’s 123–91 demolition of the Chicago Bulls. It wasn’t an injury, it wasn’t disciplinary action — and that only made the decision louder.
Head coach Steve Kerr kept things vague, almost cryptic, when asked about how Kuminga reacted to being removed from the rotation, telling reporters that “all that stuff is private.” The conversation stopped there, but the implications echoed far beyond the locker room. Kerr insisted that certain matchups simply worked better for Jimmy Butler — who returned after missing two games — and that other players complemented the lineup in ways Kuminga didn’t. It was a cold, blunt explanation that raised more questions than it answered.
Kerr did, however, highlight the energy from Gui Santos, who played 20 hard-working minutes off the bench, contributing six points, seven rebounds, and two assists. The message was unmistakable: Santos was ready, effective, and locked in — and in Kerr’s system, that’s often enough to bump someone else aside. “It happens to everybody,” Kerr added, “pretty much, other than the stars.”
But that’s exactly the issue: Kuminga was supposed to be rising into that tier, not slipping further from it.
This benching wasn’t an isolated moment — it was the latest chapter in a steadily shrinking role. Kuminga logged over 30 minutes in six of his first nine games this season, looking like a breakout candidate. But since then, the drop-off has been dramatic. He hasn’t touched the 25-minute mark in any of his last seven appearances, and Sunday marked a new low: a full DNP-CD (Did Not Play — Coach’s Decision).
For a player once viewed as a potential foundational piece for Golden State’s future, the shift is impossible to ignore.
This pattern isn’t new, either. Last season, Kuminga’s minutes fluctuated wildly before he was iced out entirely during stretches of the postseason — a move that reportedly caused internal frustration. His talent is undeniable, his athletic flashes electric, but the story of his career has been the same: inconsistency. And inconsistency, especially in Kerr’s system, is often punished.
Layered on top of that is the awkward contract stalemate from the offseason, one that dragged on longer than expected and ended with a deal that includes a club option for 2026–27. That clause alone speaks volumes: the Warriors want flexibility, not commitment. It’s hard not to read between the lines.
Which leads to the question buzzing around the league today:
Is Jonathan Kuminga becoming one of the NBA’s top trade candidates?
Given his diminishing minutes, fluctuating role, and a contract built for maneuverability, a move would hardly be shocking. The Warriors are desperate to maximize whatever window they have left, and Kuminga — valuable, young, and still full of upside — could become the centerpiece of a reshuffling.
For now, the official story is simple: Kerr made a strategic decision and didn’t need to change anything during a dominant win. But the unofficial story — the one fans can feel simmering beneath the surface — is far bigger. It’s the story of a young star drifting further from the trust of his coach, and possibly further from Golden State altogether.
And after a night like this, the next chapter may arrive sooner than anyone expects.
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