Steve Kerr opens up on Jonathan Kuminga trade following drama-filled Warriors season

It was ultimately never meant to be between these two.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made his first comments about Jonathan Kuminga following his trade to the Hawks on Wednesday and admitted that though he likes the 23-year-old, it was an overall “tough situation” for everyone involved.

“I think it was a tough situation for everybody, given how raw he was when he got here and given we were still playing for championships,” Kerr said of Kuminga to ESPN on Thursday. “He needed the runway to make more mistakes. He needed the experience of being in the NBA and understanding what it was about.”

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr calls a play during the first period of a recent game at Chase Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kerr also noted the difficulties behind developing Kuminga while Golden State was contending for the NBA Finals.

“For us as a staff, it was tricky trying to develop him while we were trying to win,” Kerr added. “I think it’s as simple as that. Everyone liked him. I liked him. He’s a really good guy. Very personable. Well-liked in the locker room. Just a tough fit.”

The Warriors sent Kuminga to Atlanta with guard Buddy Hield in exchange for former All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis, a move expected to fill Golden State’s hole at the center position.

Kerr’s comments on Kuminga come following a drama-filled season for the former lottery pick that saw him get booted from the Warriors’ rotation. He then demanded a trade on Jan. 15.

Jonathan Kuminga looks on during the Warriors’ blowout loss to the Raptors on Jan. 20, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco. NBAE via Getty Images

Tensions were high between Kuminga and Golden State from the start, with the forward reluctantly agreeing to a two-year, $46.8 million contract just weeks before the beginning of the season.

Kuminga told people that he felt forced into signing the deal to end the rocky negotiations, ESPN previously reported.

In limited time, Kuminga put up respectable numbers this season, averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 45 percent from the field in 23.8 minutes across 20 games.

Kuminga started the first 12 games of the season before coming off the bench for a game against the Spurs on Nov. 12.

Following that, Kuminga appeared in just seven games until being traded to the Hawks.