The Golden State Warriors suspect Jonathan Kuminga faked a back injury against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 2, according to The Athletic.
The Warriors rested Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green against the Thunder, so Kuminga was set to play meaningful minutes. However, the forward reported lower back soreness and didn’t play.
“Kuminga’s absence certainly raised some eyebrows across the league, and frustration within the Warriors’ organization. Multiple team sources said they suspect Kuminga wasn’t actually hurt. ‘I wouldn’t have played either,’ said one Warriors player, given anonymity in exchange for candor. ‘It’s clear the coach doesn’t believe in him.'”
Kuminga has demanded a trade from the Warriors, but the franchise is willing to keep him for the rest of the season.
Kuminga has appeared in 18 games this season. He’s averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 43.1% from the field, 32.0% from beyond the arc and 74.1% from the free-throw line.
Kuminga signed a two-year, $48.5 million deal with the Warriors to end his restricted free agency in the offseason. The second year of the deal is a team option.
“The Warriors, who have a team option for the second season on Kuminga’s deal, have lost significant negotiating leverage since the summer, in large part, because of their inability to showcase his potential. All those DNP-CDs for Kuminga, on top of the strained nature of his relationship with the organization, have emboldened suitors to lower their price point on a possible deal. And now, team sources insist that they are willing to keep Kuminga on the roster for the remainder of this season.”
The Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings are interested in trading for Kuminga, who holds career averages of 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is February 5.
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