Jonathan Kuminga Explodes for Career-High Performance, Igniting Warriors’ Future Hopes

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga has gone from promising prospect to early-season headline maker, delivering a career-best performance in the Warriors’ 125-118 opening-night win against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. The 22-year-old poured in 31 points while knocking down all 16 of his free-throw attempts, the most makes without a miss by any NBA player in a game since 1990, according to ESPN’s research department. Kuminga’s scoring binge wasn’t limited to the stripe. The third-year forward attacked mismatches in the post, finished lobs from Stephen Curry in transition, and buried a pair of catch-and-shoot threes to silence a hostile Staples crowd. Head coach Steve Kerr called it “the most complete game of Jonathan’s career,” praising his improved footwork and decision-making in the half-court. The breakout effort is the culmination of a summer spent refining the subtleties of his game. Kuminga spent two weeks at the renowned P3 facility in Santa Barbara to strengthen his core and lower body, then joined Draymond Green in Las Vegas to study defensive rotations on film. Teammates say the work is already paying off. “He’s reading coverages like a vet now,” Curry noted postgame, adding that Kuminga’s willingness to attack contact “changes our spacing and lets everyone eat.” Beyond the box score, Kuminga’s performance addressed the Warriors’ biggest offseason question: who would provide downhill pressure next to Curry and Klay Thompson? In 2024-25 the team ranked 27th in free-throw rate; on Tuesday night Kuminga single-handedly lifted them to a 35-attempt advantage. His emergence also allows Kerr to stagger minutes so that at least one elite shot-creator remains on the floor. Fantasy basketball managers are already reacting; Kuminga’s roster percentage on major platforms jumped from 41% to 78% overnight. With Andrew Wiggins still ramping up after ankle soreness, expect the Warriors to keep funneling touches to their hyper-athletic wing when they host the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Long-term, the organization believes Kuminga can form a two-way core with second-year center Trayce Jackson-Davis once the Splash Brothers eventually hand over the reins. If Tuesday was any indication, the future may arrive sooner than expected. Key stats • 31 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL vs. Lakers • Perfect 16-of-16 FT (Warriors single-game record) • 8 straight games dating back to preseason with 18+ points. What’s next Golden State faces Kevin Durant and the Suns on Oct. 26 at Chase Center. Another strong showing from Kuminga could vault him into the early Most Improved Player conversation and cement the Warriors as legitimate contenders in a loaded Western Conference.