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It’s likely that, at this point, the Warriors are as tired of the Jonathan Kuminga saga as he is of the Warriors. You know the tale, of course–Kuminga has never really fit with coach Steve Kerr’s offense, he was removed from the rotation last year after the Jimmy Butler trade, made a strong reappearance in the playoffs, had a contract standoff with the front office this summer, and has again lost his rotation spot as he awaits a trade out of town.
Kuminga started the first 12 games of the season, and has played only six times since. He’s averaging 11.3 points on 43.1% shooting and 32.0% 3-point shooting, and Kerr has said one of the tricky aspects of deciding what to do with Kuminga is that he either needs to start him and play him 30 or so minutes, or not use him at all. Whether that is true can be debated, but that is where Kuminga is stuck now.
He has, somewhat ironically, been getting support from butler himself.
Jimmy Butler’s Advice to Jonathan Kuminga: ‘You Smile’
Speaking to Warriors reporters this weekend, Butler said he has been giving some advice to Kuminga about how to handle his remaining days with the team, which is surprising considering Butler has had messy exits that led to trades out of Minnesota and Miami.
Butler was asked about whether he sees the uncertainty of Kuminga’s future weighing on him.
“Nope. Not at all,” Butler said. “I told JK, you come in here and be the pro of pros. Come here and get your work done. You smile. You have a good time because he’s still an NBA player, one of the best people in the world. And I am not even talking about basketball. So, keep smiling, keep being the great human being that you are.”
GettyWarriors star Jimmy Butler
Jonathan Kuminga ‘Getting His Work In’ for Warriors
Butler said the status of Kuminga within the team has not affected his relationship with Kuminga at all–though the Warriors’ addition of Butler can be seen as the final straw that leads to Kuminga’s trade exit. He can’t be dealt until January 15, under NBA rules, but a trade is expected to happen once that date passes.
Butler said his conversations with Kuminga have been the same.
“He better come to my house tonight and eat dinner, play some dominoes,” Butler said. “That’s my brother, like my brother now, so I could care less if he’s out of the rotation. We hang out. That’s my friend, that’s my brother. That’s not gonna change—basketball is basketball but I love him like a brother and I wish him the best. And I still see him in here getting his work in. So his mind’s right.”
Jimmy Butler Staying Out of Warriors’ Future Decisions
Additionally, Butler was blunt when it came to addressing Kuminga’s future with the Warriors.
“That don’t got nothing to do with me,’ he said. “Because I’m still gonna call and check in on him, still gonna go visit him, still go to his house, eat his food, play with his kids. So, his future is, that’s between him and whoever else. But the bond and the brotherhood we built, no future is gonna change it, that’s my guy.”