Jonathan Kuminga Smiles Again with Atlanta Hawks

Jonathan Kuminga has found in his start with Atlanta Hawks the opportunity he didn't have with Golden State Warriors. After going from starter to out of the rotation with the Bay team, the forward exploded in his debut with the Georgia team and delivered his best performance of the season. A relief for him without Steve Kerr.

In the 119-98 victory against the Washington Wizards, Kuminga scored 27 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists, and added two steals in almost 24 and a half minutes on the court. It was a complete performance, marked by powerful dunks, three-point shots, and evident energy in every play.

The Congolese player came off the bench midway through the first quarter and immediately changed the pace of the game. He pushed the fast break to slam dunk and, in his initial minutes on the court, contributed with a three-pointer, four assists, two rebounds, and a steal. His impact was greater than expected, especially after Atlanta's All-Star, Jalen Johnson, left the game in the first quarter due to a hip flexor injury and did not return.

Coach Quin Snyder praised Kuminga's ability to quickly integrate into the team dynamics and let the game flow naturally. Kuminga, for his part, expressed excitement about playing alongside his new teammates.

The forward's arrival in Atlanta came at the trade deadline. The Hawks acquired him along with Buddy Hield in a deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Golden State. Porzingis' stint in Atlanta was brief, limited to 17 games due to physical problems and illness.

Kuminga and the Warriors

Kuminga, picked 7th in the 2021 draft, had lost prominence with the Warriors. After starting the season as a starter and averaging 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in his playing time, he gradually fell out of the rotation, appearing in only seven of the last 38 games with the team. Finally, he requested a trade due to the reduction of his role.

Furthermore, the player missed his first six games with Atlanta, around the All-Star break, while recovering from a bone bruise on his left knee suffered toward the end of his time with Golden State.

In his debut with the Hawks, Kuminga made it clear that his priority is the present. He stated that he doesn't pay attention to external opinions and that his goal is to help the team win as many games as possible. On the court, his performance was the best message.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jonathan Kuminga vuelve a sonreir con Atlanta Hawks