Steve Kerr wants Jonathan Kuminga to emulate Jimmy Butler’s game

Steve Kerr wants Jonathan Kuminga to emulate Jimmy Butler’s game

The Golden State Warriors made noise ahead of the 2024-25 trade deadline by acquiring Miami Heat disgruntled star Jimmy Butler. So far, the fit for Butler has been nothing short of seamless.

The Warriors are 6-1 since Butler’s debut with the NBA’s fifth-best offense and second-best NET Rating (17.0) over that truncated sample. Though one of the fascinating elements is that they haven’t incorporated fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga, who hasn’t played since Jan. 4 due to an ankle injury, back into the rotation.

He’s in the “final stage” of returning, which is a positive sign. But Butler’s insertion into the lineup adds a fascinating wrinkle into Kuminga’s role. Earlier this week, head coach Steve Kerr recently talked about how the athletic 22-year-old could take remnants of Butler’s game and incorporate them into his own.

“He’s the perfect guy for [Jonathan Kuminga] to emulate,” Kerr said earlier this week. “What makes Jimmy special is that he doesn’t try to be special. He plays fundamental basketball. He never turns it over. He just makes the simple play over and over. I want JK to learn some of that.

He’s so explosive. I think it’s always hardest for guys for the guys who are the most talented to make decisions because they have too many options at their disposal. I’m hoping he can learn from Jimmy and spend some time with him. … Attacking the rim, nothing there, jump stop, pass the ball. That’s a great basketball play, especially for us since Stephen Curry is on the other end of the play a lot.

“Before he got hurt, that was the best I’ve ever seen [Kuminga] play, so he was already on a really good track.”

Steve Kerr said he's been showing Jonathan Kuminga lots of Jimmy Butler film 👀

"I think he's the perfect guy for JK to emulate. What makes Jimmy special is that he doesn't try to be special. He just plays fundamental basketball… I want JK to learn some of that." pic.twitter.com/F0sXaWocWu

— KNBR (@KNBR) February 26, 2025

Butler’s numbers don’t always scream impact, but he’s one of the most efficient players on the floor on both ends when he’s engaged. Through seven games with the Warriors, he’s averaging 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.4 steals on 45.8 percent shooting, though his free-throw rate (67.5 percent) and free-throw percentage (87.5 percent) have been huge for Golden State’s success offensively.

The 35-year-old will pick his spots to attack offensively and is efficient at doing so. To Kerr’s point, Kuminga doesn’t have the decision-making prowess that Butler does, often using his athleticism to his advantage.

Joe Lacob: Warriors remain ‘100 percent’ committed to paying Jonathan Kuminga

Butler could be an excellent mentor for Kuminga in terms of processing the game. I am interested to see how the fourth-year wing looks the rest of the season–with or without Butler–especially since he will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

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