© Mike Dinovo | 2021 Mar 20
For those who thought the Warriors were going to draft a player that could contribute immediately, Bob Myers proved he was being honest when he said that wasn’t the case.
Golden State elected to select Jonathan Kuminga with the No. 7 overall pick, a raw but incredibly athletic two-way wing prospect that is projected to be a few years from contributing at the NBA level. Interestingly, James Bouknight, another wing that is considered a player who can contribute right away was also on the board when Golden State made their selection. The Warriors were reportedly discussing trades in the seconds before making the selection.
Kuminga, 18, was once considered a No. 1 overall talent, but saw that stock fall after a season in the G-League where he averaged over 15 points and seven rebounds, but did so with very poor efficiency, shooting 39 percent from the field and 25 percent from three.
Kuminga is originally from the Congo, but went to high school in the states before entering the G-League.
It’s an interesting pick in the wake of the Warriors’ stars, notably Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, being open about wanting the team to make moves that can help the team. It will also serve as a test for the Warriors coaching staff, who has had some issues developing prospects in recent years.
One thing that is for certain, the dude cleans up nice.
Jonathan Kuminga was very confident about his bold suit choice when we chatted before the draft, a flashy orange design that he says was meant to make him feel “presidential” #BigNightBigFits pic.twitter.com/Lrxm0KNwVS
— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) July 29, 2021