When the Atlanta Hawks traded for Jonathan Kuminga, many jumped to the conclusion that it was an optimistic ploy to explore his untapped potential. What Atlanta seems to have calculated, however, was the manner in which his skill set perfectly aligned with the one thing they were missing.
Atlanta's Game 2 upset of the New York Knicks proved to be the perfect platform for Kuminga to show exactly that, as he emerged as the assertive scorer they desperately needed at forward.
Kuminga was electric, posting 19 points, four rebounds, one assist, two steals, and a block in 35 minutes of play. He shot 7-of-12 from the field, 1-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-6 from the free throw line in a game that was far more about mentality than efficiency.
With franchise player Jalen Johnson scoring just four points on 0-of-4 shooting from the field through the first two quarters, Kuminga took it upon himself to change the entire tone of the game.
Kuminga had eight points on 3-of-5 shooting at halftime, with only CJ McCollum scoring more for the Hawks. Johnson turned things around during the second half, but Kuminga's scoring permitted Atlanta to remain within seven points at the half.
When the fourth quarter rolled around, Kuminga proved that he was not only up to the task of closing the win out, but became something of a hub for Atlanta's offense en route to a massive Game 2 win.
Jonathan Kuminga is the assertive scorer Hawks needed at forward
Kuminga joined Knicks wing Mikal Bridges as the only players to play every second of the fourth quarter during Game 2. During that time, he tallied seven points, two rebounds, one assist, one block, and a steal, shooting 3-of-4 from the field.
Beyond the numbers, the Hawks routinely prioritized Kuminga on the offensive end of the floor while relying on him to provide invaluable contributions on defense.
It was a clear display of why Atlanta traded for Kuminga in the first place. Johnson is a 24-year-old All-Star who should receive All-NBA recognition, but at 22.5 points per game, he hasn't yet proven to be the dominant scorer contenders often need.
That inevitably opened the door for the Hawks to trade for a player in Kuminga who is nothing if not assertive as a scorer—a mentality that helped him play a direct role in Atlanta's Game 2 win.
Jonathan Kuminga is willing to take chances on offense
Offensively, Kuminga became a primary focus for entry passes that got the offense into its flow and rhythm. When Johnson began to get into a rhythm of his own, Kuminga then graciously stepped back and played off of him.
Defensively, Kuminga also stepped up against both OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns, preventing them from getting shots up and forcing misses when they tried.
Though Kuminga has been criticized for his off-ball defense, his scoring and on-ball proficiency have rarely been questioned. Both of those skills proved essential for a team that saw their franchise player struggle for two full quarters on both ends of the floor.
It was a sensational showing from Kuminga, as he showed the Golden State Warriors how badly they fumbled his development and rewarded the Hawks for his faith.
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