Dub Hub, Daily Warriors Links for 5/4/23: Steve Kerr urges Jonathan Kuminga to ‘stay ready’ despite lack of playing time

Good Morning Dub Nation,

Although Game 1 of their series against the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t end the way they were hoping for, the Golden State Warriors get a chance at redemption with Thursday night’s Game 2. Plenty of adjustments will be made including the possibility of playing Warriors second year forward Jonathan Kuminga. He was expected to see a bigger role against the Lakers — especially after riding the bench against the Sacramento Kings — however, he did not see a single minute of playing time during Game 1. Head coach Steve Kerr discussed Kuminga with reporters on Wednesday, urging the young player to always stay ready during the playoffs.

Kuminga played 20.8 minutes per game in 67 total games this past regular season. He averaged 10.0 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 51.9% from the field and 35.4% from the three-point line (2.2 attempts per game).

Kuminga’s elite athleticism made him one of Golden State’s best point of attack defenders this season. Although the matchup against a bigger Lakers team headlined by LeBron James and Anthony Davis seemed like the perfect time to play Kuminga, Kerr remained hesitant to give the athletic forward significant run.

The inconsistent playing time would be tough for anyone to handle, and the 20-year old former number seven overall pick is no exception as outlined in an article by The San Francisco Chronicle’s C.J. Holmes.

Via The San Francisco Chronicle:

“It’s still tough to lock in every single time. It’s still tough to smile every single time,” Kuminga said. “But knowing where I’ve come from, seeing how many things that I’ve actually been through that a lot of people don’t know that got me to this point… I feel like throughout my career, throughout my life, I’ve never been given anything. I’ve seen so many people just get handed stuff. That’s never happened to me.

“When I was in high school I was definitely the No. 1 player, but it never got handed to me, I had to prove my point. … You can’t stop the sun from shining, and at some point, the sun is going to come out. That’s what keeps me ready every day.”

Having said that, his teammates say Kuminga remains positive, heeding his coach’s words of staying ready for when his number is called to step up.

Here are the rest of today’s stories:

In case you missed it from Golden State of Mind:

• 6 adjustments the Warriors need to make for Game 2
• Domantas Sabonis dodges Handshake Gate questions
• Warriors encourage Jordan Poole despite late miss in Game 1 loss
• Warriors need to ask the correct questions — and find the right answers — against a top-locking and sagging Lakers defense
• Player grades: Game 1

Other Warriors News:

• Where’s Jonathan Kuminga? Warriors forward riding pine in the NBA playoffs (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Thompson: The Warriors need Draymond Green at his best — and no one knows it more than him (The Athletic)
• Anthony Davis’ presence forcing Warriors into big Kevon Looney dilemma (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Steve Kerr: Jordan Poole is “a bit of a lightning rod” (95.7 The Game)
• Warner Bros. Discovery Sports to Tee Off Next Edition of “Capital One’s The Match” — Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce vs. Stephen Curry & Klay Thompson (Warner Bros. Discovery)

NBA News:

• After losing Game 1, ‘angry’ Celtics dominate 76ers in Game 2 (ESPN)
• Suns’ Chris Paul to miss at least a week with groin injury: Sources (The Athletic)
• NBA Mailbag: How do players elevate their game in the playoffs? (NBA)
• Kings GM Monte McNair named NBA Basketball Executive of the Year (NBA)
• Joel Embiid wants his MVP story to serve as inspiration: ‘Improbable doesn’t mean impossible’ (Philadelphia Inquirer)