Draymond Green has been instrumental to Jonathan Kuminga’s rise.
Green avoided the Warriors following his second ban of the year. As part of his efforts to fulfill the requirements for his reinstatement, he attended virtual meetings and counseling sessions from the comfort of his Los Angeles home.
Communication with Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors
Throughout his time away, the 34-year-old Green maintained regular communication with his replacement Kuminga, providing detailed feedback after each game with messages containing notes, video clips, and voice memos regarding the youngster’s performances.
Kuminga revealed to ESPN that during Green’s home game watching sessions, he would review films, which helped him better understand himself.
Green kept in contact with Warriors coach Steve Kerr, teammates Chris Paul and Stephen Curry, and teammates during his 16-game absence. Green also got daily texts from Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, his old college coach.
“I wanted to learn everything he knows,” Kuminga stated, as reported by ABC7 Bay Area. “If you don’t compete heavily, he won’t just give [advice] up.”
Draymond Green’s suspensions
After Green’s initial suspension of five games for a chokehold incident involving Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert during a November 14 defeat, Kuminga stepped up to start in his place for the following game.
Draymond Green’s suspension for striking Nurkic, which occurred just six games after his return from the Gobert incident, marked a pivotal moment for the 6-foot-7 Jonathan Kuminga. During the 16 games without Green, Kuminga showcased his talent by averaging 18.4 points per game, securing his spot in the starting lineup for the Golden State Warriors.
During that period without Green, the Warriors’ defense struggled, ranking 28th in the league. Despite a promising five-game winning streak in mid-December, the team faced challenges, losing seven of its next 10 games.
