Golden State is atop the NBA standings with its 21-4 record following Wednesday night’s win and is in an enviable position among fellow lottery teams. While other top-10 picks are piling up NBA minutes, the Warriors’ rotation is so deep that Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody can’t even crack it.
Kuminga, the No. 7 overall pick, has totaled just 113 minutes of NBA playing time, while Moody, the No. 14 overall pick, has played just 93 total minutes this season. When you consider that 2020 No. 2 overall James Wiseman also hasn’t played a minute this year, the Warriors haven’t received many contributions from their past three first-round picks. Yet, they have the best record in the league.
In a swift sequence Wednesday night, Kuminga showed why sentiment is so high despite his limited NBA minutes. The account @GSWReddit on Twitter shared video of Kuminga knocking down a three, getting a steal and throwing down a reverse slam for the G League Santa Cruz Warriors.
“We have a very unique situation,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said earlier this week. “It’s very rare that the seventh pick in the draft goes to the team with the best record in the NBA. Most of the guys drafted in his range are all playing – but they’re playing for teams that aren’t winning. The flipside of him not playing as much as his colleagues near him, is he’s learning in a winning environment. There’s a lot of plusses in that regard.”
Of the top 10 picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga’s 7.5 minutes per game (15 contests) are by far the smallest. Six of the top-10 draftees are averaging more at least 29.5 minutes per game, while Kuminga’s minutes are less than half of the next top-10 rookie, Ziaire Williams (17.8 per game).
During a timeout in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ win over the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night, the PA man directed the Chase Center crowd to look at the big screen for an update on Kuminga and Moody. Golden State forward Juan Toscano-Anderson couldn’t help but look up and give a round of applause after seeing the numbers the Warriors’ rookies posted.
Moody finished with 37 points, 10 rebounds, five 3-pointers and four steals and Kuminga added 25 points. Following the win over the Blazers, Warriors guard Jordan Poole said he was happy to see Moody explode.
“It’s huge,” Poole said. “Just being able to play your game. I’m moreso proud that he took 28 shots. I’ve never took 28 shots before. There’s a lot of people who haven’t taken 28 shots but that’s huge, because he’s down there and he’s being aggressive and he’s taking shots that he practices. Same thing with JK – I wanna say he had 25. Being able to have those guys go and take care of business, individually and as a team, finding ways to get better and learn, it’s huge.”
Much attention is paid to Kuminga, but Moody uncorked a new side of his game Wednesday night.
“He’s a great shooter and he’s shown that in our practices,” Kerr said. “We know about his shooting touch. I’m thrilled that he and JK are playing, getting good reps, getting good minutes in Santa Cruz. That’s exactly what they need right now. There’s a reason they were both lottery picks. They’re both very talented players.”
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Kerr said both players will join Golden State for it’s upcoming five-game road swing, where he expects “everybody to play at some point.” The Warriors have a pair of back-to-backs, including Monday/Tuesday at the Indiana Pacers/New York Knicks and Friday/Saturday at Boston Celtics/Toronto Raptors.
During his last run with Golden State, Kuminga threw down a monster putback slam while playing the entire fourth quarter, collecting nine points and three rebounds.
“He’s got that shocking athleticism that is rare,” Kerr said. “Even in the NBA where there’s so many great athletes, JK stands out. There’s just a suddenness to his burst.”
Kerr also praised Kuminga for playing with “poise” along with his on-ball pressure and ability to defend without fouling. At one point, the 19-year-old also came by the bench after taking an ill-advised 3-pointer and copped to the error, telling his coach he knows better.
“That’s great recognition from him,” Kerr said.
Kuminga could eventually play some big minutes for the Warriors in the playoffs as a defensive stopper. Much like Poole’s run in the G League bubble last year, we might look back at this yo-yo period between the NBA and G League as a key turning point for Kuminga’s development.
Taking Moody’s explosion into account, the Warriors have to be feeling like they’re sitting on an embarrassment of riches for the future. If Wiseman can get back to the floor soon, it’d be interesting to see him get some run with the next wave of Warriors in Santa Cruz, too.
