The arrival of Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks, in the trade that also involved Kristaps Porzingis, didn’t generate much excitement at first. Coming off a difficult stretch with the Golden State Warriors, where he had fallen out of Steve Kerr’s rotation, his value seemed to be declining. In Atlanta, however, the situation has quickly…
The arrival of Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks, in the trade that also involved Kristaps Porzingis, didn’t generate much excitement at first. Coming off a difficult stretch with the Golden State Warriors, where he had fallen out of Steve Kerr’s rotation, his value seemed to be declining.
In Atlanta, however, the situation has quickly changed. Kuminga is finding more minutes and consistency, becoming an important bench contributor in recent games against the New York Knicks, helping the Hawks secure two close wins and take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Last night, the 2002-born forward finished with 21 points in 28 minutes, showing his impact on both ends of the floor and earning increasing trust from coach Quin Snyder and beyond.
His growth has also been recognized by CJ McCollum, who openly praised his teammate after the game:
He has a champion’s DNA from what he learned with the Warriors. He understands how to play the right way. His athleticism is off the charts, and you can see his explosiveness
CJ McCollum
His experience in Golden State has clearly left a strong imprint on Kuminga’s development, and now, with a more defined role, the Hawks’ talent is bringing out the best version of himself at the most important time of the season.
