Jonathan Kuminga made his long-awaited Atlanta Hawks debut on Tuesday evening, where the fifth-year swingman instantly proved he deserved a second chance in the NBA.
Kuminga was dealt a poor hand to start his career – his former Golden State Warriors teammate Draymond Green said so himself. Drafted seventh overall in 2021, Kuminga was part of a Finals-winning squad in his rookie season.Â
While it may sound like a blessing to play alongside such a talented squad, it came back to haunt Kuminga, who never had the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them. Consequently, the G League Ignite product remained relegated to a supporting role rather than being given a chance to experiment as a star.
After a successful third season in a limited role, Kuminga likely expected Warriors coach Steve Kerr to integrate him as a focal point of the offense. But alas, this never occurred.Â
The two clashed over 18 long months, with Kerr making multiple public comments at Kuminga’s expense, while Kuminga never returned to his third-year peak. Eventually, Kuminga was shipped to Atlanta for pennies on the dollar.
Kuminga finally got his second chance, and he made it count
Kuminga was the sixth man in this game, entering the game halfway through the first quarter. He instantly left his mark on the stat sheet, logging an assist in his first possession, an easy transition layup a minute later, and an easy transition dunk yet another minute later. This was only the start; Kuminga was everywhere.
By the end of the first quarter, Kuminga had brought his tally to 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal. He had a quieter second quarter, grabbing two rebounds without recording a shot attempt.
In the third, however, Kuminga went off. Checking in at the halfway point of the quarter, the debutant racked up a quick 18 points, 2 rebounds, and another steal.
Through 20 minutes of action, the fifth-year swingman had dropped 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals on a scorching 8/9 from the field and 3/4 from deep. Not too bad for a player traded for Porzingis, who was recently crowned the third-most overrated player in the league.
It is important to establish that this game was against the lowly Washington Wizards, who just keep finding ways to handicap their team as they embrace the tank. Still, Kuminga’s game was quite remarkable, regardless of the opposition.
Kuminga did the bulk of his work in the paint, which is critical for a Hawks team that ranks last in rim efficiency since trading Trae Young in early January. He isn't just salary filler for Kristaps Porzingis; Kuminga is a capable player who fills a critical hole for Atlanta.
Despite what Steve Kerr may tell you, Kuminga showed he clearly has the firepower to be a star scoring threat. With Jalen Johnson unavailable most of the game due to a hip injury, Kuminga led the Hawks offensively, and nobody would complain about this performance.
If he can string together a few more games like Tuesday’s, perhaps he can earn himself a one-year extension or have his option picked up by Atlanta.