Sometimes a player doesn't need a new team. Sometimes they just need a fresh start. And boy, did Jonathan Kuminga make the most of his.
In his first game wearing an Atlanta Hawks jersey, Kuminga absolutely torched the Washington Wizards, dropping 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting in just 24 minutes off the bench. He added 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a plus-16 rating.
The box score tells one story. But if you watched the game, you saw something more – you saw a player unleashed.
For years, Steve Kerr kept Kuminga on a tight leash in Golden State. Limited minutes. Inconsistent rotations. The message was clear: we don't fully trust you. And when you're a lottery pick trying to find your way in the league, that kind of uncertainty can mess with your head.
But Atlanta just set him free.
"I'm just playing my game," Kuminga said after the win. "The coaches here believe in me. That's all I needed."
Belief. That's the word that keeps coming up. The Hawks didn't trade for Kuminga to bury him on the bench. They traded for him because they see what he can be – an explosive, athletic wing who can score at all three levels and defend multiple positions.
He shot 3-of-4 from three-point range. When was the last time we saw him get that kind of green light in Golden State? The Warriors were so focused on preserving their championship window with Steph Curry that they never gave Kuminga the rope to grow.
Now, the Hawks have a potential franchise cornerstone, and the Warriors are left wondering "what if."
Look, I get it. Golden State had their reasons. They're trying to win now, and young players make mistakes. But great teams find ways to develop young talent AND compete. The did it for decades. The do it every year.
