Category: Basketball

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LeBron James reportedly first developed sciatica in late July or early August

While the Lakers just announced this week that LeBron James is suffering from sciatica and will be out for the first couple of weeks of the season — at least — it turns out he has been dealing with this for months.

LeBron first started experiencing sciatica nerve pain in late July or early August during on-court workouts, reports Shams Charania of ESPN on NBA Today. Here is what he said:

"My understanding is this injury for LeBron, this nerve issue, first developed, first occurred, in late July, early August, during an on-court workout. So it's now two-and-a-half months and counting that he's had to deal with it and manage it. So even before the Lakers' Media Day on Sept. 29 and the start of training camp, I'm told LeBron James had not done much basketball for well over a month prior to that. So it had been a normal routine summer for him. He's a creature of habit, we know that by the way he maintains his body. So for him to be out to start the season and miss his first-ever Opening Night, it shows an admission by him and the Lakers that he needs more time to ramp up, getting into basketball shape, getting into the right basketball conditioning that he's accustomed to. He's not there yet."

Because of the pain on his right side — the sciatic nerve runs from the tailbone down the leg to the feet — LeBron has been limited in his workouts, both physically and on the court. Once he's pain free, it's going to take time for him to get his conditioning up to speed and shake some of the rust off his game. All that can take longer at age 40. LeBron will be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks, but could well be out longer.

For the Lakers, that puts more on Luka Doncic's plate to start the season. It will also start to give GM Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office a view of what Austin Reaves looks like as the No. 2 option next to Doncic. Reaves can be (and is expected to be) a free agent next summer, and the Lakers have to decide if he's worth it to them to pay him $25-30 million a season and keep him around, or if they should look elsewhere.

How this injury heals — and what's causing the compression of the sciatic nerve, whether it's muscular, a herniated disc, or something else — could also impact LeBron's decision about how much longer he wants to play. LeBron is entering a record 23rd NBA season and will be a free agent next summer, giving him a lot of options for what the final year or years of his playing career could look like.

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Brothers Steph, Seth Curry swap jerseys during Warriors' annual open practice

Brothers Steph, Seth Curry swap jerseys during Warriors' annual open practice originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors’ open practice last week delivered more than drills and shooting — it gave us a priceless sibling moment.

Seth Curry donned No. 30 while Steph sported No. 31, swapping their usual jersey numbers for the day in a playful nod to their shared basketball lineage.

Steph Curry has been a Warrior for life. Drafted by Golden State in 2009, he has become the face of the franchise, a multi-time MVP and champion. He has worn No. 30 for all 16 seasons of his Warriors career, a number that’s become part of his identity as much as his shooting form.

So when his younger brother joined Golden State, one question lingered: what number would Seth Curry take?

He wasn’t able to secure No. 30 from Steph.

“I tried to buy it from him,” Seth joked. “He said he didn’t need the money.” 

Seth actually has worn No. 30 for most of his own career, including recent stints with the Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets. Before that, he spent two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers wearing No. 31, and earlier in his career bounced between 30, 31 and 10 as he moved from team to team.

This NBA season is the first time since Seth entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2013 that the two have shared a training camp, finally taking the floor as teammates instead of competitors.

The 35-year-old joined the Warriors on an Exhibit 9 contract, which allows him to participate in training camp and the preseason. Because of the NBA’s second-apron restrictions, Golden State will need to waive him before finalizing its roster — but the team can re-sign him as early as Nov. 11 while staying under the tax threshold.

The lighthearted jersey swap at open practice gave Warriors fans a glimpse of the brothers’ easy chemistry — and a reminder of how rare it is to see both Currys on the same court.

Steph remains the Warriors’ cornerstone, while Seth begins a new chapter in familiar territory, wearing a familiar number — just not No. 30.

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How effective will the Knicks bench be during the 2025-26 season?

Over the past two years, depth has been one of the largest challenges for the Knicks' roster. 

The Knicks bench ranked dead last in scoring during the 2024-25 regular season. In the playoffs, the club was ranked second to last in bench scoring, as then-head coach Tom Thibodeau often went to a seven-and-a-half man rotation for long stretches of the postseason.

New York responded this offseason by adding depth. 

The club signed free agents Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson to bolster the rotation. The two new Knicks join Miles McBride and either Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinson in the bench rotation. New York also added veteran guards Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews, who are all vying for spots on the roster. Second year players Ariel Hukporti, Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek are in the mix as well.

It does seem likely that Robinson will start at center at the beginning of the season since he’s started all three preseason games, while Hart has missed two of the three games due to injury and illness. 

McBride and Robinson were both crucial off the bench for the Knicks in the postseason. If Hart is a reserve this season, he adds a versatile wing capable of rebounding and making plays who can help add some pace to the offense.

Adding Yabusele specifically has given the Knicks more versatility in the frontcourt and another outside threat. The Frenchman can play as a power forward with Karl-Anthony Towns or Robinson at the five. He can also be a small ball center for stints with smaller lineups. Clarkson brings an ability to create his own scoring opportunities while occasionally setting up teammates. 

Early returns

With new head coach Mike Brown implementing a read-and-react offense, the Knicks bench could see more opportunities. Brown has focused on upping the pace, moving the ball and bombing away from behind the three-point line.

The offense is still a work in progress. 

In New York’s Thursday night preseason win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the club tossed up 57 three-point attempts, missing 42 of them. New York was 27th in three-point attempt rate last season. The club hoisted over 50 three-pointers once all season. So far in preseason, New York is shooting just 26.5 percent from beyond the arc.

It’s going to take some time for all the players to get comfortable under a new offensive system. But the potential for a free-flowing offense that relies on more ball movement can loosen up scoring opportunities for the bench, making the reserves more of a strength. That will be important in the long run so the Knicks don’t overuse their core four of Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.

Brown said during training camp that he expects to play a nine-and-a-half to 10-man rotation. In three preseason games, it’s been clear that McBride, Yabusele and Clarkson are locked into the rotation, as well as the absent Hart. Shamet received rotation minutes against Minnesota after Brogdon’s run of minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers last Saturday. Those two, as well as Hukporti or Dadiet, could see action situationally. It will all depend on who ends up with the final roster spots at the end of preseason.

Defense from the reserves will also be important to watch. Clarkson is a subpar defender, and Yabusele is not elite on the defensive end. When fully healthy, the Knicks bench should be less of a glaring weakness compared to last season despite defensive concerns. There’s more offensive versatility and perimeter shooting featured across the roster which should help throughout both the regular season and playoffs.

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Jimmy Butler's dominant practice sends strong message about Warriors' ceiling

Jimmy Butler's dominant practice sends strong message about Warriors' ceiling originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors went through a spirited scrimmage on Friday, and the performance of one of the team’s elder statesmen drew rave reviews.

The gym on this day belonged to Jimmy Butler III.

“He just had an incredible practice,” coach Steve Kerr said.

“He wasn’t on my team, so I didn’t like to see it,” Stephen Curry said partly in jest.

“But it was indicative of the ceiling that we can get to with a guy like that. A guy who at any moment knows how to win.”

Even Butler’s faux nemesis, Buddy Hield, offered nothing but props to the man who turned 36 last month.

“Jimmy dominated practice today,” Hield said. “It was great for him. He looked really good and professional today. It was great. Great energy.”

Though general praise tends to flow freely in every training camp, the reaction in this instance is highly encouraging for the Warriors. There are many stories of Butler dominating scrimmages in his previous stops, whether Chicago or Minnesota or Philadelphia or Miami.

Butler’s infamous scrimmage with the Timberwolves in 2018 is one that made its way around the NBA. Three weeks after asking to be traded, he led a group of reserves to victory over a squad that included four starters, with center Karl-Anthony Towns often the target of his ferocity. Butler was loud, hyperaggressive and, well, a winner.

That last trait is welcome in Golden State. Though there was no indication hostility, seeing him bring juice to a scrimmage warms the heart of the team’s established veterans like Curry and Green.

For doing so with the Warriors, who belong to Curry more than anyone, suggests Butler still is capable of being The Man. That while he embraces being “Robin” to Curry’s “Batman,” – the roles can be interchangeable upon request.

“I just think he took it up a notch today,” Hield said. “He wasn’t chirping like that Jimmy we know of. He was a silent killer, and his work speaks himself.”

There were shades of that Jimmy last season, as Butler occasionally took over portions of a game, usually when Curry was off the floor. He managed to make a significant impact despite being the new guy, tossed onto the roster during the searing heat of a playoff chase.

“Last year, Jimmy didn’t know any defensive terminology,” Draymond Green said last week. “We were just making it work.”

Butler this season is with the Warriors for a full training camp, which followed team workouts he arranged in the days before camp officially began. He’ll miss the third preseason game, Sunday against the Lakers in Los Angeles, for what Kerr called a “wonderful” personal matter, but he is scheduled to practice Saturday in LA before departing.

This was, in a way, a reminder. Butler putting together a “Himmy Lives” display can only be beneficial for young Warriors to witness and veterans to realize his back pocket contains plenty of what they hope to see once the regular season begins on Oct. 21.

“He was very impactful, across the board, getting to his spots, (flashing) his competitive will,” Curry said. “Our practices have been at pretty high level. Not every day, scrimmaging, but he kind of built up to a good session today. From the jump, Jimmy was attacking the rim, dictating the pace on both ends.”

This is the Butler the Warriors need to threaten teams beyond Curry, and every occasion he shows up will be greeted with delight.

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Watch Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, hilariously troll Buddy Hield during practice

Watch Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, hilariously troll Buddy Hield during practice originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Training camp is well underway ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, meaning the Golden State Warriors are locking in and getting everything they need sorted ahead of their Oct. 21 season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

So, why not have a little fun to break up the tension? 

That’s why the Warriors welcome fans into Chase Center for their annual open practice, giving Dub Nation an introduction to the 2025-25 squad. 

The event includes plenty of autographs, young fans welcomed to the court and rookie karaoke. 

While we’re at it, you might as well throw in a little trolling of guard Buddy Hield as well. 

Video shows one of the kids on the court with Hield’s practice jersey. Hield yanks at it appearing to want it back. 

We then see Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler start to concoct a plan with the young Warriors fan. The kid takes off Hield’s jersey and then rifles it at him. 

Curry and Butler burst with laughter in the background at Hield’s expense. Buddy tends to be on the butt-end of jokes, but he’s always a good sport about it. 

It’s also another chapter in the fun Butler-Hield “rivalry” that’s been unfolding since the Warriors acquired the star forward from the Miami Heat last season. 

Butler and Hield’s fun spats have typically come during postgame press conferences, which will be immortalized this season with a bobblehead giveaway. 

Most importantly, the vibes seem to be high in San Francisco heading into the new NBA season. 

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Annual NBA GM survey predicts Thunder repeat, Nikola Jokic wins MVP, Cooper Flagg ROY

The annual NBA GM Survey offers a fantastic yearly glimpse into what the lead executives around the league value and how they think.

It's also a terrible predictive tool — don't place your bets based on their responses (might I recommend the clever folks at the NBC Sports betting page for your tips). A year ago, 25 of the 30 GMs picked Boston to repeat (that was probably 26, Brad Stevens can't vote for his own team), yet Oklahoma City won 68 games and the title — the GMs have picked the champion just once in the last seven years (the 2024 Celtics).

So, is it a worrying sign for Oklahoma City that 24 of the 30 GMS picked them to repeat as champions? No, it's more a sign of the conventional wisdom thinking around the league, which this survey certainly provides. Some highlights from the voting:

NBA Champion: Oklahoma City Thunder (80% of the vote). Cleveland and Denver were tied for second (7% each).

East Champion: Cleveland Cavaliers (63% of voters had them first, 27% second), with the New York Knicks second (30% first-place votes, 53% second).

West Champion: Oklahoma City Thunder (87% of voters had them first). Denver was second (10% had them first).

Who will win MVP? Nikola Jokic, 67% of the vote. The next three in line were Luka Doncic (10%), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8%), and Victor Wembanyama (7%).

Who will win Rookie of the Year? Cooper Flagg, who got all but one vote (and Nico Harrison can't vote for his own guy, so there was one vote for VJ Edgecombe). Flagg was also overwhelmingly voted the rookie that will be the best in this class five years from now (just know five years ago the GMs voted James Wiseman that honor).

What player would you pick to start a franchise? Victor Wembanyama (83% of the vote, which makes you wonder what the other 17% are thinking).

Player most likely to have a breakout season: Amen Thompson in Houston (30% of the vote). Brandon Miller (Charlotte), Ausar Thompson (Detroit) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) were tied for second.

Which team made the best overall moves this offseason? The Atlanta Hawks (53% of the vote). The second choice went to the Houston Rockets (27%).

Which one player acquisition will make the biggest impact? Kevin Durant to Houston (73% of the vote). Desmond Bane to Orlando was second, and also voted the most underrated move of the offseason.

Most surprising move of the offseason: Milwaukee waiving/stretching Damian Lillard (second on this list was the Bucks signing Myles Turner, which only happened because of the waive/stretch of Lillard).

Who was the biggest steal in terms of where they were drafted? In a bit of a surprise, it went to Kasparas Jakucionis to Miami, selected at No. 20. Tied for second was Ace Bailey to Utah at No. 5 and Carter Bryant to San Antonio at No. 14.

Best defender in the NBA: Victor Wembanyama with 80% of the vote. Dyson Daniels was voted the best perimeter defender in the league.

Who is the best head coach in the NBA? Newly minted USA Basketball head coach Erik Spoelstra of Miami, with 52% of the vote (OKC's Mark Daigneault was second, and the Clippers' Tyronn Lue was third).

Which team's level of success this season is toughest to predict? The Philadelphia 76ers got 47% of the vote (Dallas and Golden State were second and third). With all due respect to the questions around the Mavs and Warriors, how do you not pick the Sixers?

Which player is the most athletic? Amen Thompson got 58% of the vote to finish first (Anthony Edwards in Minnesota was second).

Here's one I questioned a little: The GMs voted Stephen Curry the best leader in the NBA. That surprised me. Not that Curry isn't a strong leader, but would you put him ahead of Jalen Brunson, LeBron James, or even the injured Damian Lillard?

One other interesting question and answer: What rule most needs to change? The No. 1 answer was concerns about roster construction, specifically that the tax apron rules are too harsh, and that there should be a salary cap discount for a team's own drafted players. A lot of fans feel the same way.

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Jonathan Kuminga reveals ‘biggest concern' about uncertain Warriors future

Jonathan Kuminga reveals ‘biggest concern' about uncertain Warriors future originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga’s biggest concern in the offseason was his contract negotiations. Now that an agreement has been reached, the Warriors forward’s concerns shift elsewhere.   

Kuminga was asked in an interview with Andscape’s Marc J. Spears if anything about his NBA future made him nervous.

“The biggest thing about it is just to work and just get better every day and be a winner,” Kuminga told Spears. “No matter where I’ll be, no matter if I’m going to be here or they might ship me somewhere else. I just want to get to wherever I’ll get, or be here and just be involved and win and impact right away. That is my biggest concern.” 

The 23-year-old forward is clearly focused on improving and helping the Warriors in their title aspirations. His fluctuating role and uncertain future in Golden State don’t make that easy. 

“I don’t worry about things like that. I just try to get better. You never know with this life,” Kuminga told Spears. “It’s the NBA. One day you’re going to be here. One day you’re going to be somewhere else.” 

Despite the unknown, Kuminga remains confident. 

“I have too much confidence. And my confidence don’t just come from [inside] because I work towards it and I see how better I get every other year. The sky is the limit,” Kuminga said. “I can’t predict it, but I believe in God and I trust my work and I know I have a long way to go.” 

Entering his fifth NBA season, Kuminga has averaged 12.5 points per game with a 50.7 field goal percentage in his young career. 

His scoring production has increased since his rookie season, averaging at least 15 points per game in each of his last two seasons. 

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How Steve Kerr's leadership helped Buddy Hield feel ‘at peace' with the Warriors

How Steve Kerr's leadership helped Buddy Hield feel ‘at peace' with the Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

When Buddy Hield joined the Warriors, he quickly found something he hadn’t felt in other stops during his career: peace.

In a sit-down with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke for “Dubs Talk,” the Golden State guard reflected on why the 2024-25 NBA season was the happiest of his basketball life and how coach Steve Kerr’s leadership played a central role.

In his exit interview last season, Hield summed up his first Warriors campaign by saying, “This is the most happy I’ve ever been playing basketball.”

Asked why Golden State has been different, Hield pointed to the trust and freedom he was given.

“They allow me to be myself,” Hield told Burke. “They allow me to be me. Previous teams I’ve been on, I wouldn’t say I was unhappy, but here it’s just a unique vibe than the rest of the teams. They allow me to express myself, and I was able to to play basketball with a lot of joy and not have to look over my shoulder.”

Before arriving in the Bay Area, Hield played for the New Orleans Pelicans, the Sacramento Kings, the Indiana Pacers and the Philadelphia 76ers, carving out a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable 3-point shooters.

In his first season with Golden State, Hield averaged 11.1 points and 1.6 assists per game, providing a steady scoring presence off the bench and spacing the floor alongside Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler.

Beyond the numbers, Hield described how the environment around him made the biggest difference.

“Everything was authentic from the coaches and the players, and it’s one situation where I just feel at peace,” Hield added.

That peace, Hield explained, stemmed from Kerr’s leadership style.

“A lot of people say that coaches are transparent,” Hield noted. “A lot of coaches are not transparent. I think Steve was just 100 percent honest, transparent from day one, and never once has Steve given me the wrong answer. He’s always been straight up with me, and that’s what I like.”

The 60-year-old coach has built his Warriors tenure on communication and trust, winning four NBA championships while managing a locker room full of stars.

Kerr, a former guard who played 15 NBA seasons and won five championships with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, took over Golden State in 2014. Since then, he’s guided the Warriors through one of the league’s most successful runs.

For Hield, that straight-shooting approach stood out immediately.

“As a basketball player, you love to be happy like that and love to play with that joy, and I couldn’t ask for a better year than that.”

With Kerr’s honesty and the Warriors’ support behind him, Hield enters Year 2 in Golden State not just chasing wins, but carrying the peace of mind that changed his game.

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Hall of Famer, Celtics legend Paul Pierce arrested for alleged DUI

Hall of Famer and Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce has been arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).

The incident occurred the night of Oct. 7, officials from the California Highway Patrol told reporters from NBC Los Angeles. Traffic had been stopped on the northbound 101 Freeway through the San Fernando Valley due to a three-car accident, according to the CHP, and NBCLA can tell the story from there:

As lanes reopened, CHP officers saw a Range Rover stopped in traffic lanes south of the crash scene near Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood, the agency said.

"When officers approached, they found the driver, later identified as Paul Pierce, asleep at the wheel," the CHP said in a statement. "Officers noted signs of alcohol impairment and conducted a DUI investigation."

Pierce, 47, was cited and ultimately released, according to the CHP.

Pierce was raised in the Los Angeles area and attended Inglewood High School, just down the street from the Forum, where the Lakers used to play. He went on to college in Kansas, was drafted No. 10 by the Celtics in 1998, and went on to play 15 seasons for the Celtics, helping them win a championship in 2008. For his career, Pierce averaged 19.7 points and 5.6 rebounds a game, eventually being elected to the Hall of Fame and having his number retired by the Celtics.

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How Steph Curry, Warriors vets helped Jonathan Kuminga throughout contract saga

How Steph Curry, Warriors vets helped Jonathan Kuminga throughout contract saga  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga shared that the Warriors’ veteran core was instrumental in helping him navigate his recent contract negotiations.

In an exclusive with Andscape‘s Marc Spears, Kuminga revealed that teammates Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield each offered steady support and advice throughout his free-agency process.

“The one thing I really appreciate is my teammates,” Kuminga said. “I never heard one of them call me and tell me, ‘Yo, hurry up and do this.’ Just knowing that people like that who I go to work with every other day on that floor have my back, I appreciate that.”

At just 23 years old, Kuminga still is carving out his place with Golden State after being drafted seventh overall in 2021. He averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds last season — both career highs — while continuing to grow alongside veterans who already have defined the franchise’s dynasty.

Kuminga added that what stood out most during negotiations was the way those leaders shared their perspective, teaching him about the contract process and giving him patience when he needed it most.

“I spoke to Buddy. I spoke to Draymond. I spoke to Jimmy. I spoke to Steph,” Kuminga added. “All of them. I had a 20-plus type of conversations of how contracts work, how to feel about certain things. They were teaching me certain things.”

That mentorship became especially important when Kuminga missed the Warriors’ players-only minicamp in San Diego. He said Butler was one of the first to understand his decision to stay back and focus on negotiations.

“We had a [players] team camp out there in San Diego. I did not go,” Kuminga explained. “That’s when I had to speak to Jimmy and tell him how things were going and that I can’t get there. He’s one of the guys that really understands where I was coming from because he’s been through contract situations.”

He also leaned on Curry and Green after their offseason travels, crediting their long conversations for putting him at ease.

“Me and Steph had a long, long talk and I really appreciate that,” Kuminga said. “Me and Draymond, obviously, we always talk, but we had a long talk after he was coming back from China. They just gave me hope and patience for sure. I felt like I was comfortable after talking to them.”

As Kuminga looks ahead to the new season, he says the biggest takeaway is knowing he has the full backing of his teammates.

“I think that was the biggest thing I learned: I got people that support me and are always behind me,” he said. “I’m glad and I’m happy to always call them my teammates, my brothers.”

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Stephen A states Giannis joining Steph Curry, Warriors wouldn't be fair to NBA

Stephen A states Giannis joining Steph Curry, Warriors wouldn't be fair to NBA originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With yet another round of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talk rumors surfacing, the NBA world brought back a familiar hypothetical.

What if Antetokounmpo joined forces with Steph Curry and the Warriors? 

Stephen A. Smith said the pairing would be “unfair” on ESPN’s “First Take.”

“You want to talk about unfairness in the National Basketball Association? Don’t let Giannis get to Golden State with Steph Curry,” Smith warned. “If that happens – oh my lord. It wouldn’t be fair to the basketball world.”

On paper, it would be a monstrous pairing. Curry and Antetokounmpo have a combined four NBA MVPs, five NBA Championships and two NBA Finals MVPs.

If Draymond Green still were in the mix in that hypothetical, that would give the Warriors two Defensive Player of the Year award winners. But, Smith notes the offensive opportunities with that trio. 

“For those two to be wearing the same uniform on the same court — especially — if you kept Draymond Green, who’s your point forward facilitator, who’s your Energizer bunny, and who feeds Steph Curry better than anybody on the planet. If you had those two in the same uniform as Giannis Antetokounmpo, forget the betting odds and all of that stuff in Vegas,” Smith said, “Golden State would coast to the title.” 

All three players have played their entire NBA careers with just one team. They have the three longest active tenures with a single team, with Curry and Green entering their 17th and 14th seasons, respectively, with Golden State, and Antetokounmpo entering his 13th season with the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Antetokounmpo reportedly was open to leaving Milwaukee this offseason for the first time in his career. The Bucks star, however, has recently reaffirmed that he’s “locked in”  to playing for Milwaukee. 

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Why Jonathan Kuminga won't ‘waste energy' asking Steve Kerr about Warriors role

Why Jonathan Kuminga won't ‘waste energy' asking Steve Kerr about Warriors role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Now that a contract has been settled between the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga, the focus shifts to what happens between the lines.

The 23-year-old forward’s role has fluctuated throughout his career, especially after Golden State acquired star forward Jimmy Butler last season. That fluctuation has created some uncertainty for Kuminga and created a big contention point during the offseason’s contract negotiations. 

Kuminga, speaking to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears, said he is choosing not to worry about his role. 

“I don’t ask [Warriors coach Steve Kerr] about roles because I know what he is going to tell me,” Kuminga said to Andscape. “I don’t waste my energy. I choose not to ask because nobody is going to tell me. It’s whatever. You just have to find ways to do things when you get out there. Make plays, defend. I don’t have a consistent role. I just play a role where I make sure I play defense and run the floor.” 

When the Warriors don’t have superstar guard Steph Curry available, Kuminga has been tasked with being more of a focal point in the offense. But most nights, as it has been for over a decade, Curry is the driver of the offense. 

But that doesn’t render Kuminga useless by any means. Kerr detailed what a key supportive role looks like for Kuminga in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on “Dubs Talk.” 

“I think the role is right there for him,” Kerr told Burke. “We need JK’s size, athleticism on the wing, his ability to guard the big wing guys like Luka [Dončić], LeBron [James] and Kawhi Leonard. So, the role is right there for him. I know it hasn’t always been easy for him because he’s wanted more of a role, being more of a focal point in our offense.” 

Kuminga does recognize this, telling Spears that he thinks his role is “to rebound, play defense and run the floor,” while also saying that he doesn’t “stress myself about it or think about” variations in playing time from game to game.  

Nevertheless, Kuminga and his camp feel that he can reach All-Star level play with a starting role. Kerr, speaking to Andscape, acknowledged that wasn’t in the mix. 

“It’s been an interesting fit. He’s made it pretty clear that he wants the ball and an opportunity that a lot of his cohorts get and people that were drafted near him. And we weren’t able to offer that,” Kerr said to Andscape. “We were a championship team. We won the title his rookie year [2021-22] and have been in the mix the last few years. So, it’s been tough. I respect the fact that he is competing and fighting in a set of circumstances that maybe isn’t ideal for him. But the thing I keep telling him is he can play a role for us, absolutely, with his size, speed and athleticism. 

“He can play an important role on a very good team. He just turned 23 [on Monday]. He has plenty of basketball ahead. One day, hopefully, he will look back on this as a valuable time in his career. But I know he’s frustrated. He’s made it very clear publicly. I don’t mind that, but I want him to embrace the idea that he can be a part of something special.” 

In his four years of NBA service, Kuminga has averaged 12.5 points per game with a 50.7 field goal percentage in 22.0 minutes per game. 

Last season, before the acquisition of Butler, Kuminga averaged 26.0 minutes per game and made 10 starts in his 32 games played. After the acquisition and return from an ankle sprain, his playing time dipped to 20.8 minutes per game.

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Why Warriors star Jimmy Butler wants to win ring for Steph Curry, Draymond Green

Why Warriors star Jimmy Butler wants to win ring for Steph Curry, Draymond Green originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors forward Jimmy Butler has been chasing an NBA championship for more than a decade.

He has come close twice, reaching the NBA Finals with the Miami Heat, but the six-time All-Star still hasn’t won the ultimate prize.

After joining Golden State at the 2025 NBA trade deadline in February, Butler now is in his first full year with the team — and he made clear that his top motivation isn’t silencing his own doubters, but securing another legacy-defining title for Steph Curry and Draymond Green.

“It would mean the world to me, but it would mean the world to me if they won,” Butler told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on the latest “Dubs Talk.”

Butler understands his teammates’ résumés speak for themselves. Curry, drafted by the Warriors in 2009, already is a four-time NBA champion, two-time MVP and widely considered the greatest shooter of all time.

Green, selected by the Warriors in 2012, also has won four titles and built his reputation as the franchise’s defensive heartbeat, earning a NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017 and nine All-Defensive Team honors along the way.

Still, history shows that a fifth ring would move both into an even smaller circle of all-time greats. Only 26 players in NBA history ever have won five or more championships. For Butler, that pursuit isn’t about collecting another trophy, but about cementing his teammates’ place among the legends of the game.

“They’ve already solidified themselves in the basketball fame and in the league, we get that,” Butler explained. “But to separate themselves from other individuals — you get five, like, you’re there. You know? No doubting, you can’t question it.”

The Warriors’ dynasty already has stretched across three distinct eras — the “Strength in Numbers” group that broke through in 2015, the Kevin Durant years of 2017 and 2018, and their 2022 return to glory behind the original core. Winning a fifth title would underline just how adaptable Curry and Green have been at the center of it all.

“You can’t say, ‘Who was on your team?’ ” Butler added. “You’ve done it with multiple different types of players and rosters. You get five, nobody is questioning anything about anybody that got five.”

If the Warriors do reach that mountaintop again, Butler will know he played a role in ensuring Curry and Green’s dynasty ends with no questions left to ask.

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