Despite a roaring finish to the season, the Warriors found themselves in the Play-In Tournament for the second consecutive year.
Golden State's final opportunity to clinch a top-six spot in the playoffs came in its regular season finale, but the team could not outlast the LA Clippers in overtime. As a result, the Clippers earned the West's fifth seed, and the Warriors fell to seventh. They took advantage of their first Play-In opportunity, holding off the Grizzlies Tuesday.
It's no coincidence that Golden State's season resurgence came after the acquisition of Jimmy Butler III, who scored 38 points in the Play-In victory. As an unintended consequence of Butler's heavy workload, Jonathan Kuminga did not see any action vs. Memphis, receiving a DNP-CD in the box score for second consecutive game.
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The decision to not play Kuminga in another crucial spot was a curious one for many, as the 22-year-old is averaging 12.2 points per game since returning from a 30-game absence on March 13. Here's what Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said following Kuminga's first DNP.
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Where is Jonathan Kuminga?
Kuminga has seemingly fallen out of the Warriors' rotation. Temporarily, at least.
After Kuminga did not receive any playing time in Golden State's high-stakes season finale, Kerr was asked about the decision to not give the former top-10 pick a look.
"We've just found a group since Jimmy got here that we're pretty comfortable with," Kerr said, while also citing the fact that Gui Santos did not play. "Both [Santos] and [Kuminga] have been impactful players for us. It doesn't mean they're out of the loop going forward, this is just how this game played out."
Steve Kerr on why Jonathan Kuminga didn't play today:
— KNBR (@KNBR) April 13, 2025
"We've just found a group since Jimmy got here that we're pretty comfortable with... both [Gui Santos] and JK have been really impactful players for us. It doesn't mean they're out of the loop going forward, this is just how… pic.twitter.com/rl7ay3yfag
Kerr added that he wasn't sure if he'd be able to work Kuminga and Santos into the rotation and did not warn them that they would not play.
After the game, Kuminga returned to the court to get shots up following the DNP.
Jonathan Kuminga getting up shots well after the game ends. pic.twitter.com/MwUyYmlfPT
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dieter) April 13, 2025
While Santos saw six minutes of action in the Play-In Tournament, Kuminga still could not crack the rotation. The Warriors are now gearing up for a first-round series with the Rockets and it is unclear if Kuminga will be called upon or not.
Jonathan Kuminga stats 2024-25
Kuminga's numbers are impressive this season, but he went down with a sprained ankle in early January and was out for over two months. Since returning, he's playing in under 21 minutes per game.
It's worth noting that the Warriors acquired Butler while Kuminga was out.
| Pre injury | Post injury | |
| Games | 32 | 15 |
| PPG | 16.8 | 12.2 |
| RPG | 5.0 | 3.9 |
| FG% | 45.9% | 52.7% |
| 3P% | 34.5% | 17.1% |
| FT% | 63.9% | 74.2% |
Jonathan Kuminga contract
Kuminga will become a restricted free agent following this season. The recent discussion around his role has caused speculation around Kuminga's future in a Warriors uniform.
| Year | Salary |
| 2024-25 | $7,636,307 |
| 2025 | Restricted free agent |