The core of the Golden State Warriors remains intact heading into the 2025-26 NBA season—Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler lead the way. The trade for Butler last season ignited the Warriors into the playoffs, with the very real possibility of missing the postseason altogether had they not made the blockbuster move. With the core in place, the attention must turn to the Warriors’ supporting cast, which will be more essential than ever to Golden State’s playoff hopes next season. Included in that support cast is Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, whom Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George recently went to bat for on his podcast.
76ers Star Claims Warriors Have Key Piece In Place for Next Season
Paul George believes the Golden State Warriors have enough to compete with Jonathan Kuminga playing a significant role
Kuminga, with all the talent he possesses, has so far been unable to cement his place in Golden State. Frequent tension between Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Kuminga has been ongoing for two seasons now, and Kerr’s reluctance to play Kuminga a significant role in the playoffs last season has only cast a darker shadow on Kuminga’s future role with the team.
Presently, amid waves of trade rumors and speculation, Kuminga remains with the Warriors, which may indicate that the organization isn’t yet ready to give up on him. It’s evident that Kuminga has all the talent in the world, but for whatever reason, his fit with the Warriors hasn’t come together yet. Despite the rough career start for Kuminga, he has at least one NBA star in his corner in George, who believes that Golden State has all they need to compete next season, and Kuminga is capable of playing a significant role.
“I like what they’ve got going on over there,” George said on his podcast, Podcast P with Paul George,this week. “He [Kuminga] can play in a big lineup, and he can play in a small lineup. He guards, he defends, so I like what they got. I think they do have enough. There is still juice in Steph [Curry] and Draymond [Green], and Jimmy [Butler]. So, I do think they got enough.”
Kuminga may be on his last chance in Golden State
There is still time for the Warriors to make a trade this offseason, potentially involving Kuminga. Of course, depending on how the season goes, if they choose to keep him, they could always trade him by the trade deadline next February as well. By the way things are looking currently, it seems like Kuminga will begin the season on the team, and it may be his final shot at proving he can fit with the team long term.
Aside from the trio of Curry, Green, and Butler, Golden State lacks consistent production from its other players. Last season, along with Kuminga, Buddy Hield, Brandin Podziemski, and Moses Moody filled out most of the supporting cast, but they all struggled to produce consistently.
With the focus on Kuminga, and with a little more trust from Kerr, he is in a good spot to convince the Warriors he belongs. If he plays well and produces night after night, Golden State can unquestionably compete in the West. The ball is in Kuminga’s court, and he better pick it up and run with it.
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