Jonathan Kuminga’s contract standoff with Warriors intensifies as team offers just $45 million
One of the biggest dramas this summer revolves around Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga. The talented 22-year-old forward is eligible for a contract extension, but talks between the Warriors and his representatives have hit a serious roadblock.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reports the Warriors offered Kuminga a modest two-year, $45 million deal. His camp countered with three years at $82 million.
The gap is so wide that Golden State has reportedly been shopping Kuminga on the trade market.
One anonymous NBA executive recently compared Kuminga to Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels, suggesting Kuminga actually has more potential.
“McDaniels is great in his role, but J.K. is more talented and has higher upside if he ever can hit,” the exec told The Athletic.
The Kuminga Situation
Kuminga’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. He was originally slated for the high school class of 2021 but reclassified to graduate in 2020. Instead of going to college, he joined the NBA G League Ignite program.
The Warriors selected him 7th overall in the 2021 NBA draft.
Over four seasons, he’s appeared in 258 games but started only 84 of them.
This lack of a consistent starting role might be fueling some of the current tension.
Kuminga is now a restricted free agent, which means other teams can offer him a contract, but Golden State has the right to match any offer and keep him.
The problem? League sources say the Brooklyn Nets are the only team with enough cap space to make a serious run at him, and they’re not expected to pursue him.
That leaves Kuminga with very little leverage in negotiations.
The anonymous executive who praised Kuminga said he’d offer him a five-year, $125 million deal, comparing him to McDaniels who recently signed for five years, $131 million with the Timberwolves.
The comparison makes sense on paper. McDaniels averaged a career-high 12.2 points last season, while Kuminga’s best season saw him put up 16.1 points per game in 2023-24.
Kuminga has shown more offensive skills than McDaniels, but hasn’t been able to lock down a starting spot in Golden State’s rotation.
With the Warriors seemingly unwilling to pay him what he believes he’s worth, the big question remains: Will Jonathan Kuminga still be wearing a Warriors jersey when the 2025-26 season tips off?
