Breaking: Hawks reportedly decline Jonathan Kuminga's player option

Hawks make decision on Jonathan Kuminga

While the 2026 NBA Draft behind them, the Atlanta Hawks hit the headlines Monday afternoon with reports the team declined the $24.3 million player option on Jonathan Kuminga, making him an unrestricted free agent. “Why do you do this with a guy who’s young and talented and athletic? He fits everything you would want on a team,” 92-9 The Game’s Carl Dukes said as he and cohost Mike Bell reacted to the Kuminga reports.

“That’s the question you have to answer,” Dukes continued as he explained why he believed that should the Hawks decline the Kuminga option, it would likely be due to “whatever they thought about what he was not going to become or what he is,” Dukes said of Atlanta’s decision on Kuminga’s option. The Hawks received Kuminga in February in a trade with the Warriors in which they sent Kristaps Porzingis to Golden State.