Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga will miss Friday night’s matchup with the Houston Rockets because of a left knee issue but is on track to return Saturday for his first game against the Golden State Warriors, according to NBC Sports Bay Area.
The meeting will mark Kuminga’s initial encounter with the franchise that drafted him. Golden State head coach Steve Kerr said there is no lingering friction after the offseason trade that sent Kuminga to Atlanta and brought center Kristaps Porzingis to the Bay Area.
“Everybody likes JK. Everybody on our team wants the best for him,” Kerr told The Athletic. “Players need the right set of circumstances to thrive, and these were not the right circumstances for JK.” Kerr added that Porzingis now fills a clearly defined role alongside guard Stephen Curry.
Kuminga, the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft, still has connections in the Warriors’ organization through Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh, a former Golden State staffer. “He was somebody that you could really sit down and communicate with,” Kuminga said of Saleh.
Atlanta and Kuminga are reportedly open to a longer commitment. The Hawks hold a $24.3 million team option for the 2026-27 season that could serve as the foundation for future negotiations.
The Hawks visit Houston on Friday before traveling to San Francisco for Saturday’s contest at Chase Center. Tipoff against the Warriors is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
Source: Hoops Wire
