
It was reported that Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga made an unusual request to head coach Steve Kerr in an effort to improve his performance with the San Francisco team. Golden State is currently battling to improve its position in the NBA’s Western Conference (8th place), but a series of significant injuries throughout the season have made it impossible to achieve consistent wins.
Warriors power forward Jonathan Kuminga made a bold request to Steve Kerr amidst the team’s struggles. Here’s how it affected rotations and team dynamics. The Golden State Warriors are going through one of their toughest stretches in the early seasons, and the promising Jonathan Kuminga is at the center of the latest internal storyline.
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Jonathan Kuminga asked Steve Kerr to coach him tougher
According to team sources, Kuminga recently made a direct and personal request to head coach Steve Kerr: he wants him to coach him harder. The conversation reportedly took place during a meeting at the team hotel in Sacramento before the ninth game of the season. Kerr, known for his player-friendly style, took the message seriously.
But the timing of the exchange came just as the Warriors were beginning to falter. A 4-1 start quickly turned into a .500 record, and Kuminga’s own play declined as knee pain began to limit his explosiveness. The 23-year-old struggled defensively in two consecutive road losses to the Bucks (without Giannis Antetokounmpo) and the Pacers (who were missing part of their rotation).
Kuminga missed the final four games of the road trip due to knee tendonitis, but with a long home series ahead and several workouts planned, the Warriors are looking to intentionally reintegrate him. His request for a more intense workout could ultimately determine how Kuminga returns to the rotation and whether this difficult stretch becomes a turning point for both him and the Warriors.
Trail Blazers visit Warriors in NBA Cup
The Golden State Warriors face the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA Cup group stage game. The Warriors are 8-4 in Western Conference games. Golden State is 1-0 in games decided by a single possession.
The Trail Blazers are 6-6 against Western Conference opponents. Portland ranks seventh in the Western Conference with 45 rebounds per game, led by Donovan Clingan with an average of 10.0. The Warriors are shooting 45.0% from the field this season, 3.7 percentage points lower than the 48.7% the Trail Blazers allow their opponents. The Trail Blazers score 6.5 more points per game (120.7) than the Warriors allow (114.2).
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