Kuminga, who the Warriors have toughed out, is also sweet! 46.5 million in 2 years changed from a trading chip to a real-valued contract?

Translator's Note: This article was originally published by CBS, and the author is Brad Botkin. The data in the article are as of the time of publication of the original article (October 28, local time). The opinions in the article have nothing to do with the translator and the platform.

In the Golden State Warriors' season-opening victory over the Lakers last Tuesday, less than five minutes into the game, Jonathan Kuminga received a pass from Stephen Curry on the right wing and immediately lowered his head and broke into the paint. Then he forced a 14-foot shot before his teammates had even touched the ball. The ball hit the backboard hard.

You can almost feel Steve Kerr's "here we go again" frustration. Over the past four years, Kerr has always veered somewhere between hesitant and outright distrust in using Kuminga, let alone giving him the starting job he openly craved, largely due to shot selection like this.

But this time Kuminga realized his mistake. He immediately raised his hands to admit his mistake. Sure enough, in the second half, he made adjustments. "The first few rounds of the third quarter," Kerr praised, "we played very beautifully."

Indeed, Kuminga scored 13 points in the third quarter of the opener (17 points in the game), and used the Warriors' signature cross-screen tactics to obtain open three-point opportunities at the beginning. Kuminga started the play from the corner - this is the Warriors' usual start: pass to Draymond Green, then set up a screen for Stephen Curry, the whole process is seamless.

But this is the charm of Curry’s adaptability. Depending on where he goes around the screen, the entire play will have a knock-on effect, and teammates must adjust their follow-up moves accordingly. This is the "fluidity" that Cole has always emphasized. If he can read and respond to the rhythm of the game in real time, the benefits will increase exponentially.

Choosing this type of offense (rather than his long-time preference for a mid-range pull-up jumper—he attempted just three such shots this season compared to an average of four per game last season) has given Kuminga an astonishing 68.6 percent true shooting percentage this season. His assists, rebounds and other statistics all hit career highs, and all shooting percentage indicators hit career highs - although the current sample size is small, these improvements are worthy of attention.

Cole praised Kuminga for showing maturity after the contract turmoil this summer, emphasizing that the two parties had "in-depth communication." He has a "clearer understanding" of the role the team needs - which actually implies that he needs to fully serve the Curry-centered offensive system when he is on the court.

However, this is not Kumingga’s “exclusive request”. Every Warriors player is required to play this way, and even Kevin Durant's isolation frequency dropped to a career low during his time with the Warriors. When the greatest shooter of all time (and perhaps the most efficient scorer) is running off the ball, you can't disrupt the flow of the offense in pursuit of individual attacks. You should set a screen for him and pass the ball to him or the teammate who will pass to him. When an offensive opportunity arises from the chaos created by all this movement, you can accelerate the breakthrough. But generally speaking, never act rashly before the time comes.

This is especially critical for Kuminga, whose shooting efficiency in his preferred shooting area last season ranked at the bottom of the league (for example, the aforementioned mid-range pull-up jumper from 4-14 feet accounted for 36% of his total shots, and his shooting rate was only 37%). There is absolutely no reason to sacrifice Curry's scoring opportunities to try for inefficient shots.

After all, the Warriors system requires a specific type of player. This isn't for everyone. As a role player, Kerr has to be confident that you can support Curry in the right and selfless way. Playing time tells everything. This season, Kuminga not only entered Cole's starting and finishing lineup, but also played alongside Curry for 90 of his 93 minutes of playing time.

This is no coincidence. This was the result of Kuminga making the right choice at the right time. His improved passing ability (sending wonderful passes even if not included in the assist data), his activity in cutting without the ball, his scoring and shooting performance with significantly improved efficiency (while his usage rate was significantly reduced), his offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding rates increased by 58% and 28% respectively - and most importantly, his defensive contribution.

In fact, the service library is not limited to offensive support. When necessary, he needs to fill in for him on the defensive end. With the Nuggets leading by three points in overtime, Kuminga spotted Curry immediately directing a defensive switch after confronting Jokic, and ultimately blocked Jokic's shot.

Ku Ming indeed deserves praise. All he heard throughout the summer was that "the Warriors didn't really need him." When the two parties were forced to form an "arranged marriage," everyone still predicted the eventual breakup. Perhaps this is still a possible option: Kuming adds a two-year contract of US$46.5 million (team option in the second year). This salary setting leaves room for transactions. He will be eligible to be traded starting from January 15. If current performance continues, its market value will surely soar.

On the other hand, if Kuminga keeps performing like this, his value to the Warriors may be even more prominent. From Kerr to every member, Kuminga's talent has always been recognized, and his athletic ability is unique among the Warriors. When that explosiveness is combined with a sudden eye for detail, it creates a near-perfect puzzle for this team.

"JK is off to a great start this season," Kerr said, "...he's at his best when it comes to emotional management. I've never been more pleased with the coach-player bond we have, whether it's explaining the team's needs or the way he responds. I'm proud of him and excited about what the future holds for him and us."