Jonathan Kuminga has consistently delivered some of his strongest performances this season against the Houston Rockets, but his role in the upcoming first-round playoff series remains uncertain.
In a separate report, The San Francisco Chronicle’s Sam Gordon notes that despite Kuminga’s previous success versus Houston, there’s no assurance he’ll see significant minutes in the series.
Kuminga was notably held out of both the Warriors’ play-in victory over the Memphis Grizzlies and their high-stakes regular-season finale against the Clippers.
Since returning from a sprained ankle that sidelined him for 31 games, his minutes have been limited, and his role has fluctuated.
Still, Kuminga’s numbers against the Rockets are hard to ignore. He’s averaged 21.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game across their meetings this season, shooting an efficient 50.8% from the field and a sharp 42.1% from beyond the arc.
His athleticism and ability to score at all three levels have given Houston problems in the past.
Veteran forward Draymond Green expressed confidence in Kuminga’s readiness and potential impact, emphasizing that staying mentally engaged is key when a player’s minutes aren’t guaranteed.
“He’ll contribute,” Green said. “He’s great. He’s getting his work in. That’s all you can do in that situation is get your work in. And he’ll be meaningful for us in this series. I have zero doubt about that.
“The challenge for him is to stay mentally engaged, as it is for anyone in that situation, but I have zero doubt in my mind that he’s going to help us in this series.”
As the Warriors prepare to face the Rockets in Game 1, Kuminga’s past performances suggest he could be an X-factor – if and when his number is called.
Warriors Notes: Kerr, Curry, Kuminga, Moody, Dunleavy https://t.co/TkIqqBbGFb pic.twitter.com/haGqmn5oVS
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 20, 2025
