Jonathan Kuminga expresses joy in ‘strong’ debut for Hawks
ATLANTA — After spending time on the bench in Golden State, Jonathan Kuminga finally had the opportunity to excel for the Atlanta Hawks.
He certainly took full advantage of it.
In his debut with Atlanta on Tuesday, Kuminga delivered powerful dunks, hit 3-pointers, and spent a significant portion of the evening smiling during a 119-98 victory over the Washington Wizards.
Kuminga concluded the game with a season-high 27 points — a stark contrast to the conclusion of his time in Golden State, where the athletic forward lost favor with coach Steve Kerr.
“It was great,” remarked Kuminga, who also recorded seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. “I was excited to be out there with the guys.”
The Hawks acquired Kuminga and guard Buddy Hield in a trade that sent center Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors at the trade deadline.
Kuminga entered the game off the Atlanta bench around the midpoint of the first quarter and made an immediate impression against the struggling Wizards. He executed a dunk on a fast break — breaking into a broad smile as he returned up the court — and showcased his diverse skill set with a 3-pointer, four assists, two rebounds, and a steal during his initial time on the floor.
Kuminga ended up playing nearly 24 1/2 minutes, taking on a larger-than-anticipated role after Atlanta’s All-Star forward, Jalen Johnson, exited in the first quarter due to a hip flexor injury and did not return.
“He connected with his teammates and allowed the game to come to him,” coach Quin Snyder commented on his new player.
Kuminga missed his first six games with the Hawks, which were around the All-Star break, while recuperating from a left knee bone bruise sustained during his final weeks with the Warriors.
The No. 7 overall selection in the 2021 draft, Kuminga was removed from the rotation in Golden State and requested a trade when his playing time diminished.
Initially, the Warriors indicated that there was limited interest from other teams. However, the Hawks emerged as a trading partner, parting ways with Porzingis after he appeared in only 17 games during his sole season in Atlanta due to injuries and illness.
Kerr dismissed any off-the-court concerns regarding Kuminga, despite the fact that the 23-year-old from the Democratic Republic of the Congo participated in just seven of his last 38 games with Golden State.
He began the season as a starter, averaging 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game during his limited appearances.
Kuminga emphasized that he was not attempting to send a message to the Warriors in his first game with the Hawks.
However, he was clearly excited to be back on the court.
“Everybody has an opinion,” Kuminga stated. “I really don’t pay attention to what anyone else is saying. We’re trying to win as many games as we can here. That’s my main focus.”
