NBA – Warriors player in the eye of the storm after elimination: « He looked off Stephen Curry »

Par Joël Pütz | Journaliste sportif

With Golden State now on vacation, the upcoming offseason promises to be eventful in California. One player, in particular, reportedly drew the ire of the coaching staff due to his behavior toward Stephen Curry…

Ultimately, Stephen Curry didn’t even have time to return to help his teammates. Deprived of the superstar starting in Game 2, the Warriors didn’t last long against a dedicated Timberwolves team, determined to take down the 2022 champions. As a result, it took Anthony Edwards and company just five games to get rid of them and reach the conference finals.

And so it’s the end of the road for the Californians, who were hoping for much more in 2024-25, now that Curry is 37 years old. The arrival of Jimmy Butler in February was a lifesaver, giving the franchise a boost after a chaotic start to the season, but they’ll have to be very active in the market this summer to renew a squad that has likely reached the end of its tether.

Steve Kerr annoyed by Jonathan Kuminga’s attitude on the court

This inevitably means departures, and among them, Jonathan Kuminga emerges as an obvious candidate. The Congolese player, who scored 26 points in Game 5, has led his franchise in scoring this series, but his attitude is apparently increasingly annoying his entourage in the Bay Area. Just before the game, a report by The Ringer‘s Logan Murdock further exacerbated his situation:

Despite his talent, Kuminga’s propensity to look for his shot at the expense of the flow of Golden State’s offense has irked the coaching staff. During a late-season game against the Blazers, team sources say Kerr was incensed after several instances in which Kuminga looked off Curry to create his own offense.

Kuminga subsequently received DNPs in the Warriors’ regular-season finale against the Clippers and then again in their play-in matchup against the Grizzlies. By the start of the playoffs, many within the organization wondered whether Kuminga, who is eligible for an extension, had played his last game as a Warrior.

Kuminga’s situation has been a problem for Golden State for over a year, but it may soon be over after these revelations. The fact is, Steve Kerr has never been able to find the right formula to harness his potential, and while many fans blame the coach for that, perhaps he isn’t the only one responsible. In any case, a separation between the player and the franchise seems necessary.