Golden State Warriors' lottery pick, Jonathan Kuminga, is a basketball talent with unlimited potential. His height, reach, and athleticism are reminiscent of superstars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. However, to become a top player in the NBA, talent alone is not enough, it also requires hard work and continuous improvement.
Kuminga's performance at the start of the 2023-24 season has given us a glimpse of the subtle changes in his basketball journey and made us look forward to his future.
Kuminga's offensive prowess should not be underestimated, and in the game against the Clippers on December 1, Kuminga scored 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, becoming the focus of the game. He also scores in a variety of ways, from using his body to drive to layups, shoot three-pointers from the outside, and even dunk in the air. His dunk action is also very domineering, which amazes the fans.
While his effective shooting percentage is a career-low one, that doesn't detract from his prowess on the offensive end. He is averaging points per game from 9 last season9 to 113. The goal difference has also improved. These stats all show his improvement on the offensive end.
Kuminga's offensive trajectory continues to rise, and while it may not have improved much, it's a testament to his growth in the professional path as with every dunk he makes in the game.
Kuminga's defensive prowess is his greatest strength and his biggest area of improvement. His performance on the defensive end has made him an ace for the Warriors. Not only can he defend any position of the opponent, but he can also switch quickly in defensive transitions and put the opponent under immense pressure.
His defensive stats are also eye-catching, with a defensive efficiency value of 111 according to the latest statistics1。When he was the closest defender to the ball, the opponent shot just 438%, which is 4 percent less than their normal shooting percentage1 percentage point. These stats all show how good he is on the defensive end.
Kuminga's defensive prowess has been highly praised by Warriors leader Stephen Curry. Curry said in an interview: "He's like a hound on the defensive end. As long as he uses his body language to communicate with his teammates on the field and make the most of his athleticism, he can be a real disruptor on the field. ”
Kuminga's defensive trajectory continues to rise, and while he may not have improved much, every step he takes is a testament to his career path. These advancements mark Kuminga's progress toward becoming a well-rounded basketball player.
Kuminga has a plus/minus of +25 in the 2023-24 season, which shows his significant contribution to the game. Just last weekend, in the rematch between the Warriors and the Clippers, he showed off another dunk that left fans hooked. In fact, since his rookie season, this kind of amazing performance has been commonplace, everyone loves to watch him play, and he himself feels proud. However, there is always something unsatisfactory behind the scenery, just like in the playoffs last season, he played a lot less playing time than before.
In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Kuminga said: "This season has really not been easy for me. Even though I'm on the pitch most of the time, a lot of times things are out of my control. He also said that it is not easy to always be fully committed and smile optimistically.
Although Kuminga's time with the Golden State Warriors was full of challenges and difficulties, he didn't give up. He doesn't always make the best choice, and it's still unclear if he'll be the 3-D player people want to be. However, his dedication to defence and his moments of growth on the pitch have shown everyone an ambitious player. He is hungry to put in the effort and hopefully become a top player one day. His determination and commitment have made everyone look forward to him and believe that he will achieve even more success in his future basketball career.
Kuminga is a basketball talent with unlimited potential, and he is also a basketball player with great ambitions. He is willing to put in the effort and become a top player one day. His basketball career has only just begun, and his basketball story continues. Let's look forward to his future together, and let's witness his growth together.