Everything is Changing For Warriors as Jonathan Kuminga’s Future Takes Sudden Shift in Steve Kerr’s Confession

Golden State used to script chaos into choreography. They made the unpredictable feel inevitable. But in this playoff run, particularly in Game 5, that thread unraveled. And now, everything’s on the table. The Warriors’ starters got blitzed, brutally. Outscored. Kerr pulled the plug with 5:50 left in the third—his stars benched, his bench unleashed. The Rockets’ zone defense didn’t just stifle Golden State’s flow—it stripped them of identity. That trademark motion, the off-ball magic? Gone. In its place: hesitation, misreads, turnovers.

And yet, the bench, the bottom of the rotation, punched back. A 19–5 run cut the 29-point deficit to 13. Moody slashed. Knox ignited. Pat Spencer sparked chaos. Suddenly, Ime Udoka was forced to reinsert his starters. Suddenly, the series felt alive again.

Kerr didn’t call it a white flag. But his postgame tone betrayed urgency hinting towards a shift: “All options are on the table.” That matters. Kerr has built a legacy on structure, on trusting his system through storms. But this signals the system is no longer sacred. That shift—toward adaptability, toward matchup volatility—is a philosophical break as much as a tactical one.

That includes the starting lineup.

October 20, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (right) talks to forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) during the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Buddy Hield started Games 4 and 5. In Game 4, he brought gravity and grit—15 points, +17, sharp closeouts, tight cuts. But in Game 5? Hunted on switches, bullied in space, rushed on offense. He scored four points and was a ghost defensively. The volatility says less about Hield and more about the shrinking margin for error Kerr sees in this group.

And that shrinking margin leads directly to Kuminga. He missed Game 5 with a migraine—he’ll be available for Game 6 according to Kerr. But this isn’t about availability. It’s about viability.

Since Jimmy Butler arrived, Kuminga has gone from centerpiece to question mark. He played 26 minutes in Game 2. Then 17 in Game 3 and a DNP in Game 4.

Why? It’s not attitude. It’s not effort. According to Anthony Slater: “They’re not handing him the ball because Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry are out there most of the time. They’d rather have guys out there that master the small stuff.”

Steve Kerr’s “all options are on the table” remark wasn’t just coach-speak—it was a subtle signal that rotation changes may be imminent. Jonathan Kuminga’s absence has solidified Quinten Post’s role off the bench, but his return could complicate that hierarchy. Post has been serviceable, yet limited in impact. Kuminga’s athleticism and defensive versatility offer a higher ceiling—especially against Houston’s relentless guard play and rim pressure.

Dec 23, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talks with guard Buddy Hield (7) against the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Meanwhile, Buddy Hield’s starting role continues to be a mixed bag. His Game 3 performance (17 points, 5 threes) showcased the spacing he provides, but his defensive flaws were glaring in Game 5. Houston exploited him on switches, targeting mismatches with speed and physicality.

That could force Kerr’s hand. If he keeps Hield in the starting five, Kuminga might emerge as a sixth man spark—displacing Post and injecting energy, transition scoring, and perimeter defense.

Kerr is clearly weighing more than just stats—he’s managing matchups, momentum, and locker room roles. In a series where adjustments have defined the narrative, Kuminga’s return could be the next move on Kerr’s chessboard.

Kuminga’s future and the choices it forces

Kuminga is headed into restricted free agency. The Warriors still talk about valuing him long-term—Joe Lacob was deeply involved in drafting him—but value without usage is a hollow promise. The moment Jimmy Butler arrived, Kuminga’s role shrunk. The coaching staff prioritized veterans who execute, not experiment.

What makes Kuminga’s situation particularly delicate is the optics and timing. He’s not just another young player lost in the shuffle. He’s someone who, pre-trade, was averaging 15.3 points per game and looking like a foundational piece. And now? His minutes have evaporated, his fit questioned, his future murky.

If the Warriors don’t move early to extend him—and instead let the market set his price—they risk two dangerous outcomes: an offer sheet they can’t stomach, or a sign-and-trade under duress. Either path strips them of control. Either path admits they mismanaged one of their most valuable developmental assets.

The contract situation only amplifies the stakes. Kuminga will be a restricted free agent this summer, with a potential market value estimated around $28 million per year. That price tag forces the front office’s hand.

And if Kerr’s trust in Kuminga has indeed fractured, that only complicates matters. Earlier, Tim Kawakami noted, “I can’t see Kuminga and Kerr finding a lot of common ground from here.” More than that, Kuminga represents a deeper tension inside this team: Can the Warriors be both a win-now contender and a developmental incubator? Their identity has long leaned on “both.” But Butler’s arrival forced prioritization. And so far, it’s clear what’s been chosen.

Dec 6, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) speaks with forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) during a time out against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

Moreover, Golden State’s collapse in Game 5 wasn’t just statistical—it was philosophical.

Houston’s first-half barrage was historic. But the bigger story was Golden State’s lack of response. Curry and Butler were scoreless until late in the second quarter. Houston’s double-big zone defense revealed the spacing and flow issues still plaguing this team.

Ironically, it was the bench that gave the Warriors hope. Moody, Knox, and others played without burden, cut the lead to 13, and forced Houston to bring back their starters. Kerr praised the effort. Yes, they set the tone in game 6, but tone alone won’t win Game 6.

What Golden State needs now is unpredictability. Urgency. Fire.

That means initiating early actions that pull Houston’s rim protectors away from the basket. That means trusting Kuminga to pressure the rim and challenge the Rockets’ zone with force, not finesse. That means abandoning some of the symmetry for spark.

This is not a call to throw away system—it’s a plea to recognize that system needs juice.

Because if Game 6 becomes a carbon copy of Game 5’s first half, the Warriors won’t just be out of the playoffs. They’ll be out of time.

Everything is changing. The only question is—who’s ready to change with it?

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