Jonathan Kuminga believes he should get paid as much as Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham, and that’s a wild statement for him to be making. His current situation with the Golden State Warriors has been holding up free agency, and Kuminga’s belief that he’s as valuable as Cunningham, may be contributing to the problem.
“He apparently thinks he’s at the Cade Cunningham-Scottie Barnes level, where he should get that type of contract,” one league source told Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle. “… It’s really a quandary. I think it’s bad for the Warriors and bad for him.”
Obviously, every NBA player needs to be confident in themselves if they want to succeed. But the reality is, Kuminga hasn’t been able to reach the same levels as some of the other players in his draft class. So, asking for as much money as they make doesn’t really make a ton of sense.
Cunningham has had a far better career than Kuminga thus far.
How far from Cade Cunningham is Jonathan Kuminga?
Cunningham and Kuminga, and Scottie Barnes, for that matter, were all selected in the 2021 NBA Draft. The Pistons selected Cunningham with the No. 1 pick, Barnes went fourth to the Toronto Raptors, and the Warriors took Kuminga at pick No. 7.
Since then, Cunningham has helped the Pistons make the playoffs as a lead option, earning an All-NBA appearance along the way. He and Barnes have both been All-Stars, too. Kuminga hasn’t done any of that.
He’s been in the playoffs. He’s even won a championship. But Stephen Curry has led the way. And on top of that, Kuminga hasn’t been able to stay in Steve Kerr’s rotation because of fit issues.
Kuminga needs the ball in his hands. He is undoubtedly a very talented basketball player. But playing next to Curry isn’t easy, as the entire offense is tailored to what he needs.
Still, Kuminga sees his own potential. He believes he can be a star if given the right opportunity. But asking (or wanting) the same money as guys who have proven themselves in the NBA already is where things get tricky.
The Warriors are right to not want to pay Kuminga Cunningham-type money, as he hasn’t given them Cunningham-level production. He hasn’t even really come close.
Kuminga and the Warriors have found themselves in a very tricky situation, and somehow, some way, Cunningham’s name has ended up in the middle of it.