The question regarding Jonathan Kuminga was never whether he could put together a hot stretch; rather, the question has always been whether he can perform consistently. As he approaches a critical contract season, the Atlanta Hawks are eager to see whether their newest addition can continue to impress.
Kuminga has had the start Hawks fans dreamed of, scoring 20+ points in each of his first three outings. His production hasn’t just been limited to scoring, either, providing a critical rebounding boost and moving the ball in Quin Snyder’s ball-movement-heavy offense. Perhaps most importantly, Kuminga has simply looked happy out there. He’s sported a huge smile in each of his three games, a stark change from his days as a Golden State Warrior.
These three games, however, could represent an outlier. He hasn’t exactly faced elite competition, as he’s played the Washington Wizards twice and a Portland team with Donovan Clingan in foul trouble. For this reason alone, it would be foolish to assume Kuminga is a guaranteed star. We’ll have to continue monitoring Kuminga as Atlanta’s schedule begins to include more serious teams.
But this isn’t the only reason to be skeptical. Kuminga has had hot stretches before, but he was unable to translate this success into consistent production in Golden State. Could this be different?
Kuminga has a short window to make a case for a renewed contract
Atlanta has 20 games remaining, including matches against the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics (twice), New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers (twice). Other borderline playoff teams include the Orlando Magic (twice), Milwaukee Bucks (twice), Miami Heat, and the Warriors. Kuminga will certainly get his chance to prove himself against elite competition.
This sample is not large enough to determine whether Kuminga can be consistent over the course of a year, but it should give valuable insight into whether Atlanta should retain the former top-10 pick for another season.
What can Kuminga do to improve his stock?
Kuminga should have a personal checklist containing four items as he navigates this stretch.
First, he must remain a scoring threat. While the little things certainly matter, Kuminga is a score-first player at heart. For him to justify his lofty $24 million club option for next season, he has to be a reliable scoring threat. This should be easy for Kuminga, however, so long as he continues to receive consistent minutes.
Second, Kuminga must continue to pass the ball. Golden State fans and staff often criticized the forward for being a “black hole” on offense – when the ball goes in, it never leaves. If you believe in Kuminga, you’ll chalk this up to limited opportunity in Golden State. A harsher view would be that he may revert to his old ways when his honeymoon period in Atlanta fades.
Third, he has to show up on the hustle stats, primarily through rebounds and steals. Kuminga has the athletic tools to be a true threat on defense and on the glass, but this has yet to be seen on a season-long level. Like his passing, you can chalk this up to a renewed sense of focus or a honeymoon period of maximum effort. Whether this remains a part of Kuminga’s game will be a critical question Onsi Saleh considers before re-signing.
Last, Kuminga must remain positive in the chemistry department. His clashes with Steve Kerr were loud and painful to watch; Atlanta simply cannot afford such a volatile player. He’s looked overwhelmingly happy through three games, but this has been just three games after a long-awaited move. Will he continue to display his contagious smile, or will a losing streak be enough to make him sulk again?
Kuminga is certainly capable of passing this test. He is a natural scorer with the basketball IQ and athletic skills to be a capable passer and hustle player. To pass the test, he will have to remain locked in on the mental side of the game.