SAN FRANCISCO — At the not-yet-ripe age of 19, Jonathan Kuminga can already say he’s conquered a former team.
A couple days after making his NBA debut, Kuminga was back in blue and gold at Chase Center on Wednesday, only he suited up for the G League Santa Cruz Warriors. With 16 points, Kuminga helped Santa Cruz to a 110-88 exhibition win over the G League Ignite, the Walnut Creek-based club designed to develop young talent before the NBA draft.
The two Bay Area developmental league teams hosted a closed-door exhibition at Chase Center before the NBA’s Warriors faced off against the Charlotte Hornets. Golden State coach Steve Kerr was able to observe his young lottery picks in starring roles for a half, before he had to go prepare for that night’s game.
“I was really pleased that both guys got minutes and got reps,” Kerr said. “Such a big part of their development is just reps and getting to play.”
Kuminga, an inaugural member of the Ignite last season, successfully used the new format as a launching pad to the No. 7 overall selection in the NBA draft. His teammate, Jalen Green, went second overall. Jaden Hardy and Michael Foster Jr. are expected to follow in their footsteps as first-round picks on this year’s team.
Kuminga will get a different perspective on the G League this season as he shuttles back and forth between Santa Cruz and San Francisco, along with Moses Moody, as part of the Warriors’ plan to “chase wins” at the NBA level while developing their young core.
Moody, who was also assigned to Santa Cruz before Wednesday’s scrimmage, joined Kuminga with 16 points in Santa Cruz’s final tuneup before the G League schedule gets under way. Moody also grabbed seven boards and blocked three shots in 32 minutes; he’s averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 steals in two G League exhibitions.
For Kuminga, who missed three weeks during the preseason with a strained right knee, the extra time on the court is especially crucial. His 16 points came on 80% shooting from the field and added four rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 30 minutes.
“We just need to keep giving him as many reps as possible and let him develop and help him along the way,” Kerr said. “Moses is obviously in a different place because he didn’t miss any time, so he’s further along and more comfortable in his role and how to play at this level.”
Both players were activated later Wednesday evening and eligible to play against the Hornets, the 58th time in history a player has appeared in contests for his G- (or D-) League and NBA teams in the same day.
Expect to see both lottery picks, and possibly James Wiseman, get their time in the spotlight under the much dimmer bulbs of the G League, without being relied upon heavily at the NBA level.
It’s part of the growing connection between Golden State and its G League affiliate.
The Warriors’ G League team also now uses the same terminology in their play calls as they do at the NBA level. The Sea Dubs’ coach for the past three seasons, Kris Weems, moved this year into a player development role with the organization.
“I think about how far this franchise has come in terms of the connection with Santa Cruz, even since I’ve been here. We’ve developed players, coaches, training staff. There’s been a pipeline that’s come through Santa Cruz,” Kerr said. “We’ve had a lot of players who’ve benefitted, and I think we’ve gotten better and better of making that connection really strong.”
Source: www.mercurynews.com