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Orion Kerkering’s wild throw ends Phillies’ season in their latest playoff disappointment

LOS ANGELES — Eyes red, Orion Kerkering received words of support from his Philadelphia Phillies teammates.

“‘Just keep your head up. It’s an honest mistake. Just, it’s baseball,’” he remembered hearing.

“`You’ll be good for a long time to come,’” they added.

“It’s not my fault, then. We had opportunities to score,” was the message he kept getting.

Kerkering made a wild throw past home plate instead of tossing to first after mishandling Andy Pages’ bases-loaded comebacker with two outs in the 11th inning. Pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim scored and the Phillies were eliminated with a 2-1 loss that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-1 NL Division Series victory.

“It means a lot. It shows they care a lot,” Kerkering said of his teammates. “It just means everything, for sure.”

Kerkering won’t forget just the second error that ended a postseason series. Phillies fans won’t, either.

“Test wall, for sure,” the 24-year-old reliever said, managing a small smile. “Just kind of keep going with it. It’s hopefully starting a long career. Just keep in the back of my head ... get over this hump. Keep pushing.”

Nick Castellanos’ RBI double in the seventh off Emmet Sheehan put the Phillies ahead, but Jhoan Duran walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded in the bottom half, forcing in the tying run.

Tommy Edman singled off Jesús Luzardo with one out in the 11th and went to third on Max Muncy’s two-out single that eluded diving shortstop Trea Turner.

Kerkering walked Kiké Hernández, loading the bases. Pages, in a 1-for-23 postseason slide, hit what appeared to be a harmless grounder, the type every pitcher practices gloving from spring training on.

Kerkering bobbled it, yet still had time to get Pages at first base. That’s where catcher J.T. Realmuto was pointing.

But when Kerkering reached back to his right and picked up the ball, in one motion he made a hurried sidearm toss toward home from 46 feet away. The ball sailed up the third-base line, past Realmuto’s outstretched mitt. After originally running past the plate, Kim returned to touch it.

“I was surprised he threw it home,” Kim said through a translator. “I just ran as hard as I could.”

Kerkering hung his head and put hands on knees.

“Just hit off my foot,” Kerkering said. “Once the pressure got to me, I just thought there’s a little faster throw to J.T., little quicker throw than trying to cross-body it to Bryce (Harper at first base). So just a (terrible) throw.”

Realmuto put a hand on the side of Kerkering’s head and then on a shoulder.

“Twenty-four-year-old kid like that, he’s probably feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders after that play,” Realmuto said. “So I just tried to reassure him that the whole game’s not on him. There was a lot opportunity for us to win that game and we didn’t do what it took.”

Phillies manager Rob Thomson wrapped an arm around Kerkering when the reliever reached the dugout.

“He just got caught up in the moment a little bit,” Thomson said. “I feel for him because he’s putting it all on his shoulders.”

Teammates did their best with soothing words.

“I feel bad. Not just for him. I don’t want to feel like — put pity on him, but it could have been any one of us,” Turner said. “It’s a team effort.”

Philadelphia, second in the major leagues with 96 wins this season, was held to four hits and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

“That’s a really good team over there,” said Harper, who was 0 for 4 with a walk. “We went toe-to-toe today. Pretty (good) heavyweight fight back and forth. Really good pitching, obviously, and they came out on top.”

Kyle Schwarber, who hit an NL-best 56 home runs, hit two more in a Game 3 win but was 1 for 12 with seven strikeouts in the three series losses.

Schwarber, Realmuto, left-hander Ranger Suárez and outfielder Max Kepler are eligible for free agency. Center fielder Harrison Bader has a mutual contract option, and left-hander José Alvarado has a club option.

“You make so many personal relationships with guys throughout the course of the year,” Schwarber said. “They become family. You never know how (free agency) will go. But these guys know how I feel about them. I have a lot of respect for the guys in here, our organization, our coaching staff, everybody top to bottom.”

After losing to Houston in the 2022 World Series, the Phillies were knocked out in the 2023 National League Championship Series and now in consecutive Division Series.

“You’ve got a lot of talent in this room,” Kerkering said. “I know a couple guys are leaving, but the guys that we know are going to be here next year are guys that always are going to compete every single day. Just keep grabbing for it. The goal is a championship, no matter what, no matter what group of guys.”

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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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Exeter’s Brown-Bampoe in the fast lane for great things for club and country

Wing has a masters in finance but has England ambitions and takes inspiration from Manny Feyi-Waboso

In his quieter moments Paul Brown-Bampoe has a recurring daydream. A packed Twickenham international stage, with him playing on one wing for England and his Exeter teammate Manny Feyi-Waboso on the other. “Of course I’ve imagined that day,” he says, smiling broadly. If the double-barrelled whizz-kids continue their current form it might just happen sooner rather than later.

Admittedly it is early days in the new Prem season but something potentially thrilling is stirring out west. Feyi-Waboso, after an injury-curtailed year, is back fit and firing with five tries in his opening two league games. The top-drawer Wallaby Len Ikitau has arrived to link up with Henry Slade in the Chiefs midfield and also lurking with intent is the 23-year-old Brown-Bampoe, a serious athlete with numerous strings to his bow.

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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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Islanders Jonathan Drouin To Have Over-The-Phone Hearing For Cross-Checking Penguins Connor Dewar

EAST MEADOW, NY --New York Islanders forward Jonathan Drouin will have an over-the-phone hearing with NHL Player Safety after cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins forward Connor Dewar on Thursday. 

Drouin, 29, has never been suspended by NHL Player Safety in his career. The league has been cracking down on cross-checks, so the expectation is that, at a minimum, he'll be suspended one game and miss the home opener against the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

We'll see who draws in for the Islanders if that's the case. 

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NHL Rumor Roundup: Flyers Seek Blueline Help, More Nazem Kadri And Logan Cooley Speculation

The Philadelphia Flyers started this season missing two of their top four defensemen.

Cam York is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and expected to miss the Flyers' first three games. Meanwhile, Rasmus Ristolainen is still recovering from surgery in April to repair a ruptured triceps tendon.

On Oct. 7, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Flyers were “definitely checking what's out there on defense” in the trade market. However, he doesn't anticipate much activity this early in the season.

The Flyers have over $6.6 million in salary cap space after trading permanently sidelined defenseman Ryan Ellis to the San Jose Sharks earlier this week. Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco cited sources suggesting they could use that room to bolster their blueline.

Jonathan Bailey of The Hockey News doesn't expect the Flyers to trade assets for an older defenseman or a smaller, offensive-minded blueliner. Di Marco agrees, believing they'll target an impact player if they make a move.

Di Marco indicated the Flyers were interested in Bowen Byram before he signed a two-year extension with the Buffalo Sabres earlier this year. He wondered if they might revisit their interest, suggesting they offer up winger Owen Tippett and young blueliner Emil Andrae.

However, Bailey doesn't consider Byram the defensive stalwart they need. He noted that Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars and Philip Broberg of the St. Louis Blues will be RFAs seeking big raises next summer but doubted they will be available. He also doesn't see the New Jersey Devils trading Simon Nemec to a division rival.

Nazem Kadri (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

Meanwhile, in Calgary, Flames center Nazem Kadri has surfaced again in trade speculation.

Kadri, 35, has been a frequent subject of media trade conjecture for the past two years, mostly based on the Flames' position as a retooling club. For his part, Kadri has insisted he and his family enjoy living in Calgary and he has no intention of requesting a trade.

Nevertheless, the possibility of a Kadri trade hasn't gone away. During the Oct. 3 episode of Flames Nation's Barn Burner podcast, TSN's Darren Dreger suggested the Flames might consider moving the veteran center if they're out of playoff contention by the March 6 trade deadline.

If the Flames attempt to move Kadri, they might wait until the off-season. That's when his full no-movement clause reverts to a 13-team no-trade list on July 1.

Turning to the Utah Mammoth, NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently reported Logan Cooley rejected an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $9.6 million, which would've made him their highest-paid player.

Cooley, 21, centers the Mammoth's top line and in the final season of his entry-level contract. Given the rising salary cap, he's likely waiting to see how the market unfolds. He could set his sights on something closer to $11 million.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

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Despite Loss To Penguins, Islanders’ New Additions Make Strong First Impressions

PITTSBURGH, PA -- There's no question that the New York Islanders would have loved to come away with a win to open their 2025-26 season when they battled the Pittsburgh Penguins.

There were several positives in their 4-3 loss at PPG Paints Arena, but a few issues from last season persisted, including the power play going 0-for-3 and the penalty kill allowing goals on their first two chances, finishing the night 3-for-5. 

No team wins a Stanley Cup in game one of the regular season. It's about building something, and for three of the newest Islanders to find the scoresheet, two of which found the back of the net, is so incredibly important for confidence.

No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, who doesn't need moral victories to earn confidence, connected with a fellow newcomer on the Islanders' first goal, finding Jonathan Drouin in the high slot off a rush chance:

"Our team is so easy to make plays with them, and everyone's in the right spot," Schaefer said postgame. "So yeah. I mean, I found Drouin there and it was an easy pass to him, and of course, he puts in the back of the net. So yeah. I mean, I'd have to thank my teammates for that, because they're always in the right spots.”

Drouin, who signed a two-year deal worth $4 million annually on July 1, is something the Islanders are going to rely on heavily. He was brought in to gel with Bo Horvat on the club's top line, and scoring in your first game with your new team is a heck of a start. 

The 29-year-old logged 19:47 minutes, scoring on three shot attempts. He did receive a five-minute major and a 10-game misconduct late in the third period and will be having a hearing. 

Schaefer played 17:50 in his NHL debut, which included time late with the Islanders down a goal in a 6-on-5 situation -- recording the assist with one shot on goal on six attempts -- five were blocked -- with a hit, a giveaway and a takeaway. 

The other newcomer, Maxim Shabanov, who signed a one-year entry-level deal this summer out of the KHL, came through with a one-time finish from his knee to tie the game at 2-2 with less than 30 seconds to play in the middle frame. His goal came off a wicked feed from Simon Holmström:

Shabanov had been quiet during training camp and preseason, finding the net in their exhibition finale, as he looked to get more comfortable.

He finished his NHL debut with 9:45 minutes played, scoring on his only shot while adding a takeaway. 

Emil Heineman, the only other newcomer who came over from Montreal, played 13:12, with one shot on three attempts, two hits, two giveaways, a blocked shot, and won the only draw he took. 

All four players finished the night at +1. 

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All fluffed up: why modern balls are causing frustration and injury in tennis

Daniil Medvedev is one of a growing number of leading players who say that the balls have become unpredictable and are affecting their game

It did not take Daniil Medvedev long to realise he was in serious trouble at the French Open. As he tried to find a way past Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the first round, Medvedev simply did not feel comfortable on the ball.

With his prospects of advancing in one of the biggest tournaments in the world dwindling, the 29-year-old settled on a drastic solution. Medvedev requested completely different strings when he sent his rackets for restringing mid-match, switching from a hybrid of natural gut and polyester strings to a full polyester setup.

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Northampton welcome back Lions – and not a day too soon as Leicester loom

Phil Dowson has Fin Smith, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell and Tommy Freeman available again and eager to make up for last season’s 33-0 defeat

It does not feel like a coincidence that the Prem’s first derby weekend of the season marks the return of most British & Irish Lions players and for Northampton it is a welcome boost indeed. Phil Dowson has Fin Smith, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell and Tommy Freeman back at his disposal as they seek to avenge last season’s 33-0 home drubbing at the hands of fierce rivals Leicester.

For Saturday’s game Dowson has selected Smith, Mitchell and Freeman to start while Pollock is named on the bench and across the league a number of other Lions return now that the mandatory rest period has ended. Marcus Smith starts for Harlequins against Saracens, who field Ben Earl from the start. Jamie George is on the bench but Maro Itoje is still considered “unavailable”. Bath are led by Finn Russell in their West Country encounter with Gloucester with Will Stuart also starting. Ellis Genge lines up for injury-hit Bristol against Exeter.

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Stay or Go: Should the Mets trade Kodai Senga?

As the 2025 Mets devolved from a team with World Series hopes to one that missed the playoffs, the main culprit behind their fall was the pitching -- the starting rotation specifically. 

Among the issues?

The season-ending injuries suffered by Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill in June, the summer struggles of David Peterson and Sean Manaea, and the transition from reliever to starter that led to truncated starts by Clay Holmes.

But the most puzzling thing that impacted New York's 2025 rotation was the Jekyll and Hyde performance of Kodai Senga.

Over his first 13 starts from April 1 to June 12 -- spanning 73.2 innings -- Senga posted a 1.47 ERA (3.24 FIP) while allowing just 51 hits.

During his start on June 12, Senga injured his hamstring while receiving a high throw from Pete Alonso as he covered first base. That injury kept him out for roughly a month, and there are many who draw a throughline right there when trying to assess why it all went wrong.

But Senga was strong in his first start back from the IL, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings on July 11 while allowing four hits, walking two, and striking out four.

After that, it was a nightmare for the 32-year-old, who had a 6.56 ERA (6.11 FIP) in 35.2 innings over eight starts from July 21 through Aug. 31. After his start on Aug. 31, Senga accepted an assignment to the minors, where he was unable to get his mechanics straight or find his stuff. 

In light of Senga's massive struggles, and with the Mets needing to transform the starting rotation, is it time to explore a trade?

Aug 31, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Citi Field.
Aug 31, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Citi Field. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO TRADE SENGA

More than anything, it is Senga's ongoing struggle to get his mechanics right -- and the massive issues that often pop up when he doesn't feel they're 100 percent in place -- that has been the most frustrating aspect of Senga's tenure in New York.

And while it took until September of this season for things to come to a head, Senga was pointing to his mechanics and "overthinking" as early as July 22.

The hope when Senga went to the minors was that it was a largely stress-free spot where he could get right. That he couldn't reach a point where he was able to return and pitch in the majors should have alarm bells going off.

Looking at Senga's pitch mix, his forkball remained elite in 2025 -- hitters slugged a minuscule .188 against it -- but he had serious difficulties with consistency when it came to the offering.

Meanwhile, Senga's two other most used pitches (his four-seam fastball and cutter) were crushed.

Opposing hitters slugged .543 against the four-seamer while slugging .483 against the cutter.

Beyond Senga's battle to get his mechanics in order and find the correct pitch mix is his growing injury history.

Since the start of the 2024 season, Senga has missed time due to injuries to his shoulder, calf, and hamstring. Those issues limited him to just 5.1 regular season innings in 2024 and 113.1 innings in 2025.

New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field.
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. / Rick Scuteri - Imagn Images

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP SENGA

Senga's rookie campaign in 2023 and his first few months in 2025 are proof that he can pitch near the top of the rotation when he's at his best.

His advanced numbers from April through June in 2025 show that he was perhaps due for a bit of a regression, but his 2023 was utterly dominant.

In 166.1 innings over 29 starts, Senga had a 2.98 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while allowing just 126 hits and striking out 202 batters -- a rate of 10.9 per nine innings.

Senga's four-seamer (grading out in the 98th percentile) and forkball (93rd percentile) were also elite in 2023, as was his whiff percentage, barrel percentage, strikeout rate, and xBA. Meanwhile, his ground ball rate and xERA were above average. 

Senga might not profile as a true ace in the event he gets it together, but he possesses high upside. 

He's also relatively affordable -- set to make $15 million each of the next two seasons. The Mets have a conditional club option for 2028 worth $15 million that will kick in if Senga has Tommy John surgery or a right elbow injury that keeps him on the IL for 130 or more days.

There's also the rest of the rotation to consider when weighing Senga's future. In other words, while there are concerns about Senga, there are questions surrounding most other potential members of the rotation, too.

May 13, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) waves to the crowd after getting taken out in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field.
May 13, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) waves to the crowd after getting taken out in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images

VERDICT

Using logic and deductive reasoning, it's fair to believe that three pitchers might be penciled in right now as members of the Mets' 2026 rotation: Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, and Nolan McLean.

Manaea did not perform well in 2025, but he was also pitching with loose bodies in his elbow. Additionally, his salary ($22 million annual luxury tax hit through 2027) could be prohibitive when it comes to finding a potential trade partner. 

It's also likely that Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong will both play a big role in 2026, though that might not come from the jump. 

As far as David Peterson, who is entering his final season of arbitration, it would be hard to give up on him.

Meanwhile, it can be argued that the Mets need to find a top of the rotation starter externally -- and probably will.

If you put all of it together, something will have to give. And the most sensible scenario has the Mets dangling Senga via trade. 

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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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