UPDATE: Kuminga is probable for Thursday. Status will determined after warmups.
It’s been a tale of two seasons for the Golden State Warriors. Throughout the first half of the campaign, inconsistency plagued the former dynasty and they held a 25-26 record through their first 51 games. Since acquiring Jimmy Butler just before the trade deadline, though, the Warriors have completely renewed their outlook with 12 wins in their last 14 games — their 37-28 record has them sixth place in the Western Conference standings.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, reinforcements are on the way in Golden State.
Fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga, who hasn’t played since spraining an ankle back on January 4, is likely to return to the Warriors’ lineup on Thursday against the Sacramento Kings.
There are major implications to Kuminga’s impending return from his months-long absence. The 6-foot-8 forward seemed to be in the midst of a breakout when he went down with the injury. In his last 15 games prior, the G-League Ignite product averaged 20.4 points on 48.7% shooting overall and an impressive 40.7% from beyond the arc.
The Butler addition and Stephen Curry’s resurgence mean that Kuminga’s usage will likely decrease in comparison to before his injury, and he’ll probably come off the bench unless Draymond Green is deployed as a small-ball center. However, the 22-year-old is certain to still play a key role moving forward.
The big-bodied forward is a tough defender and pulls down an average of five rebounds per contest in addition to 1.5 combined steals and blocks. He’ll step in as a two-way threat, and if he comes off the bench, facing opposing teams’ bench units is an added bonus. With Golden State pursuing a playoff spot in a loaded Western Conference, look for Kuminga’s impact to grow as he regains his conditioning and the postseason approaches.
The Warriors’ home contest against the Kings tips off at 10 p.m. EST on Thursday night.
