Klay Thompson has lofty expectations for Jonathan Kuminga
Klay Thompson believes Jonathan Kuminga can become a star in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors veteran’s comments came after his team’s 118-129 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday (Jan. 13.) That loss was the Warriors 21st defeat of the season, and left them as the 12th seed in the Western Conference.
However, Kunminga was one of the best players on the court despite the loss. He ended the game with 28 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, shooting 55.6% from the field and 66.7% from 3-point range. Only Giannis Antetokounmpo scored more points throughout the game, which illustrates Kuminga’s offensive impact.
“JK has gotten so much better with his pace and his ability to rise up over the defense, in the mid-range especially,” Thompson said. “And, his three-point shooting has been much better as of late. And, his ability to get to the rim, he’s one of the best at it on our team. You forget how young he is. He’s going to be a star one day.”
Kuminga has played in 38 games so far this season, starting 15 of them. Regardless of whether he’s coming off the bench or is part of the opening lineup, he’s consistently finding ways to impact the game with his energy and athleticism.
"You forget how young he is. He's gonna be a star one day."
Klay raves about JK's growth ⭐ pic.twitter.com/fQ8h4oBOhN
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 14, 2024
With Draymond Green expected to return from suspension when the Warriors face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday (Jan. 15), Kuminga will likely continue to come off the bench. However, if he can continue making a similar impact to that against the Bucks, that role could be exactly what the Warriors need from him for the rest of the season.
