Some are born in Rome, while others spend their entire lives unable to reach it. Some always find ways to ride the waves and reach Rome! In life, success is fleeting, but failure is the main theme. However, how one faces failure distinguishes different types of people: some are knocked down by failure, while others get up and continue moving forward. The NBA is a world of survival of the fittest, where prodigies like LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama, who peak upon their debut, are few and far between. Most stars need the right time, place, and people to truly shine, enduring numerous challenges before they can defy fate and become true winners of fame and fortune, such as Nikola Jokic, who went from a second-round pick to an MVP, champion, and Finals MVP, writing the most magnificent tale of overcoming adversity! There is another star in the league who doesn't believe in fate and refuses to give up, being only one big contract away from becoming a winner in life!
Jonathan Kuminga was born in Goma, a war-torn border town in Congo. Kuminga once said: "If many players had gone through what I've been through, they would have given up basketball or even needed psychological counseling, but these things don't affect me; they are the continuous source of my motivation!" From learning to play basketball by watching Kobe Bryant's highlights to giving up college to represent Ignite in the G League, from joining the Golden State Warriors, the reigning champions, as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 draft to winning the NBA championship as a rookie, Kuminga has proven with his actions that misfortune can make someone stronger throughout their life, and clearly, Kuminga belongs to the latter, as hardships always make him stronger.
Kuminga achieved his championship dream at a young age, envied by many of his peers. However, every coin has two sides. Being in a powerhouse team like the Warriors, where veterans like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are the main characters, and under the leadership of head coach Steve Kerr, who emphasizes veteran contributions, Kuminga must "lie low, even if he's a dragon or a tiger." More importantly, when Kuminga plays well, the credit may not be his; when he makes mistakes, criticism is inevitable! As a result, Kuminga doesn't even have a guaranteed starting position, and his playing time is often limited. Some of Kuminga's fans pointed out bluntly: Kerr uses Kuminga this way to lower the offer during contract renewal!
During this offseason, the contract renewal negotiations between Kuminga and the Warriors ended unhappily. According to American media reports, the Warriors offered Kuminga a four-year, 112millioncontract,whileKumingadesiredanear−maxcontractworthfiveyearsand200 million, which ultimately fell through! This new season is Kuminga's contract year, with an annual salary of only $7.7 million! Emotionally, logically, and for his own benefit, Kuminga must go all out to fight for a big contract. But what happened? Kerr implemented a 12-man rotation, and Kuminga went in and out of the starting lineup three times, with his playing time still restricted. Even with the Warriors plagued by injuries and their ranking plummeting, Kuminga mainly played as the sixth man. Fortunately, Kuminga was always prepared and could seize the opportunity to make a splash!
So far this season, Kuminga has played 29 games (10 starts), averaging 26.2 minutes per game, contributing 16.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 three-pointers per game, with a shooting percentage of 45.5% and a three-point percentage of 32.4%. Although Kuminga's consistency still needs improvement, his explosive power always brings pleasant surprises. On December 6 against the Rockets, Kuminga scored 33 points and grabbed 7 rebounds; from December 9 to December 16 against the Timberwolves, Rockets, and Mavericks, Kuminga scored over 20 points in three consecutive games; on December 24 against the Pacers, Kuminga scored 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists; on December 28 and 29 against the Clippers and Suns, Kuminga scored a total of 68 points in back-to-back games, with 34 points each, setting a new personal career high! Statistically, Kuminga became the first Warrior since Poole to score 30+ points multiple times off the bench in a single season. Additionally, Kuminga replicated the feats of KD and Curry, becoming the third Warrior in the last 15 years to score at least 34 points in two consecutive games with a shooting percentage of at least 55%, something even greats like Klay Thompson, Poole, and Wiggins have not accomplished.
Kuminga's continuous breakout performance has won him widespread acclaim! As a teammate, Draymond Green frankly stated: "Kuminga is one of the most talented players on the team, and we need him to maintain his aggressiveness." As a mentor, Kerr expressed in an interview: "Kuminga is making progress; he's better at reading the game. Even though I have him come off the bench, I give him the playing time of a starter." As an observer, NBA pundit Whale Teacher pointed out incisively: "Kuminga is the healthy version of Zion Williamson playing small forward; if the Warriors don't offer him a max contract, other teams will be fighting for him!" However, Kuminga himself remains unperturbed. When discussing his recent hot streak, Kuminga said straightforwardly: "This is thanks to the trust that Kerr and the team have placed in me!" This is Kuminga, who shines with just a little bit of sunshine, with the sky as the limit! At least from the current situation, the Warriors need young talents like Kuminga, and this four-year, $200 million contract is within his grasp!
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