The Golden State Warriors made the NBA Finals five years in a row from the 2014-15 season up to the 2018-19 season. During that stretch, they won three titles and lost two NBA Finals. When they lost the 2019 NBA Finals, the Warriors also lost Kevin Durant to free agency and Klay Thompson to an injury. In the next two years, they missed the playoffs and tried to draft young players who could help the team in the future. One of those players was Jonathan Kuminga, who is now the reason the Warriors have yet to make a formal signing in the offseason.
Three Players that Will Haunt the Warriors Kuminga Draft Mistake
In the 2020 draft, which was the COVID-19 draft (no workouts, no draft combine, etc), the Warriors selected James Wiseman as the second overall pick. They followed it up by selecting Jonathan Kuminga in the 2021 NBA Draft as the seventh overall pick. At the time, Kuminga was a logical selection for a team that lacked wings who could score and drive to the basket. Yet, it seems like they made a huge mistake. Whether it was due to a lack of development, a bad fit, or anything in between, the pairing never fully panned out. This summer, they are tied in the Kuminga saga.
There is no guarantee that if the Warriors selected another player, one of the three below, they would have a better team. But we cannot deny the fact that these three players developed much better than Kuminga. And one of them could have been the perfect fit for the Warriors. Let’s take a look.
Franz Wagner
Taken eighth overall, just after Kuminga, Franz Wagner has developed into an All-Star-type player. He has yet to make the team, but last season, he had a stretch before his injury during which he guided the Magic as the first option on the team. While Kuminga has yet to average more than 16 points, Wagner averaged 24.2 points in 2024-25. Additionally, in the last season, Wagner showed his ability to be a point forward, dishing 4.7 assists per game. That is an aspect that Kuminga has yet to add to his game.
Trey Murphy III
The Warriors had two chances to draft Trey Murphy III, and they missed on both. He was a bit older when he entered the 2021 NBA Draft, which might be a reason why several teams passed on him. Last season, however, he has shown an ability to score, make plays, and even defend at a decent level. Murphy made the leap in his fourth season. Now, some might say, playing on a New Orleans Pelicans team without expectations and pressure has its perks. Nevertheless, Murphy was taken 17th overall. The Warriors had the seventh and the 14th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Alperen Sengun
Unlike the previous two players, Alperen Sengun has made the All-Star team. Last season, he was selected as a backup by coaches after averaging 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Sengun can score, rebound, and make plays for teammates. He is still growing and developing. The only knock on his game is the defensive end. While he is not a great defender, he is improving. Now imagine the Warriors with Sengun and his inside presence. That would be scary, right? Sadly, the Warriors missed on several picks, including Wiseman in 2020, and then Kuminga in 2021. The jury is still out on Kuminga, and a change of scenery might benefit him. But the Warriors definitely didn’t get the player they wanted.
Can the Warriors Salvage the Kuminga Draft Mistake?
For a while, the Warriors operated on a two-timeline projection. One was with Steph Curry and his ability to guide a team to a championship. The other was with their young players, hoping they can take over when Curry retires. Well, last season, that was out of the water. The problem for the Warriors is that they lowered Kuminga’s value over the years. Now, they are having issues trading him for role players and a future first-round pick.
Photo credit: © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
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