Kuminga sits as short-handed Warriors cruise past Bulls
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CHICAGO — Forward Jonathan Kuminga never left the bench Sunday night as the Golden State Warriors, missing Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Al Horford, routed the Chicago Bulls 123-91.
Head coach Steve Kerr trimmed his active group to 11 players and chose not to use the team’s fourth-highest-paid player. “Happens to everybody pretty much, other than the stars,” Kerr said of the decision. “Guys come in and out of the rotation, depending on who’s available, how the team is playing.”
Kuminga, 23, is in the first season of a two-year, $46.8 million deal that includes a team option for 2026-27. After starting the first 13 games, he missed seven contests with knee tendinitis and has shot just 12-for-40 in four appearances since returning, including a 1-for-10 effort Saturday in Cleveland.
Before tipoff at United Center, Kerr informed Kuminga the club would “go in a different direction.” The forward acknowledged the move, saying, “Whenever my number gets called, I’ll be ready.”
Golden State leaned on its reserves for a second straight night. Two-way guard Pat Spencer reached double figures for the fourth game in a row, second-year center Quinten Post knocked down five three-pointers, and rookie Brandin Podziemski poured in 21 points. The Warriors held Chicago to 91 points one day after limiting the Cavaliers to 94.
The victory pushed the Warriors to 13-12 at the end of a four-game trip. Curry and Green are expected to return Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which could further reduce Kuminga’s minutes.
Kuminga becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 15, and league sources indicate the franchise will gauge interest before the February deadline. “I’m going to work out every day, stay ready,” he said. “Things happen. It’s happened before.”
Source: ESPN
