Jonathan Kuminga says he turned to several of the NBA’s biggest names for guidance while negotiating his new deal with the Golden State Warriors. Speaking with Andscape’s Marc Spears, the 21-year-old forward said he sought advice from stars like Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler as his contract talks grew increasingly tense.
“I spoke to Buddy. I spoke to Draymond. I spoke to Jimmy. I spoke to Steph. All of them. I had 20-plus types of conversations about how contracts work, how to feel about certain things. They were teaching me certain things,” Kuminga said.
Over the summer, Kuminga found himself in a standoff with the Warriors. He believed he had earned a deal worth $30 million per year, with a player option for the final season. But after months of back-and-forth, he eventually settled on a new agreement in October, one that didn’t fully meet his original expectations.
Jonathan Kuminga revealed that the dispute went beyond money. What mattered more to him was securing control over his future. He wanted flexibility to become a free agent in 2026, but the structure of the deal kept that out of reach. As talks dragged on, he leaned on veterans who had been through similar situations.
“We had a [players] team camp out there in San Diego. I did not go,” Kuminga said. “That’s when I had to speak to Jimmy and tell him how things were going. He’s one of the guys who really understands where I was coming from because he’s been through contract situations. Me and Steph had a long, long talk and I really appreciate that.”
Steph Curry, Green, and Butler even reached out to the Warriors’ front office to advocate for him, though it didn’t change the final outcome. Jonathan Kuminga said their support gave him perspective and patience.
Now back with the team, Jonathan Kuminga admits he still feels uneasy about his role. He hasn’t spoken to Steve Kerr about it yet but remains focused on improving and earning his place in the rotation.
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