Jonathan Kuminga talks with Tim Kawakami, with some clips transcribed

Tim Kawakami had a chat with Jonathan Kuminga. Here follows a link plus selected passages transcribed.

Plus

What kind of things are you working on? Where are you improved?

Me personally, I feel like I’m a complete player. I feel like I should be able to work on every aspect of the game, layup, shooting, reading the game, defensive, watching films, knowing when the play going to develop or anything. Just, I feel like I have done some of it. I just have to go up and it’s something perfect, pretty much all the spot and just keep getting better at pretty much everything, ball handling, shooting, ability to create space and making plays and stuff like that.

We always think about the three, right? Shoot the three. I see you’ve been practicing, you’re hitting the three, at least in, you know, shooting drills. Where are you with shooting the three now? Is that something you think you can really bring into your game?

Oh no, I’m definitely confident. And I just can’t wait to go out there and just show people what I’ve been working on and stuff. I mean, it’s always been my thing to just work on certain things and get better. And I feel like shooting threes, I got so much better at shooting.

Steve Kerr has mentioned that you would definitely get a lot of minutes if you could play the three, the small forward. He wasn’t sure, at least last time we talked to him, that you could be a small forward. Do you think you could be a small forward in this game?

I’ve always been a small forward my whole life. And I don’t have a position at this point, ’cause I feel like I said, when I go back in the summer, I work on everything ’cause I’m a small forward, but I could play any position. So I never just define myself as a small forward ’cause I know I could play small forward. I’ve been playing at Small Forward since I was little. Like I said, just getting better and just growing more mentally, physically, toughness and just knowing my role and knowing what I need to bring on the table. 

There’s Draymond still there at power forward, you’ve got Andrew at small forward, Kyle Anderson can play some of those positions. Where do you see yourself fitting in that?

I’m definitely, like I said, I’m a Small Forward. I don’t see – Draymond always going to be Draymond. I could play with Draymond, I could play with anybody. I don’t see anybody being in my way because I feel like we could all be on the floor at the same time. 

There’s a lot of talk about could you play with Wiggins, right? The stats weren’t there, but then Draymond at center or something seemed to really click with that. 

That’s not even a problem. I feel like I have done it. I think I have done it and I have gotten better and I feel like that’s just very easy. It’s not that hard, it’s just I feel like I could play with all of them on the floor at the same time.

If you weren’t a starter, would that be a problem? 

I’m not thinking about that right now, but I’m working towards it. The goal is me being a full starter, so I’m not even worried about what’s going to happen because I know how much work I put in and I know once I step on that floor things are going to change. I’m not even worried about that right now. 

You’ve seen Scottie Barnes in your draft class, Franz Wagner drafted after you. You keep in touch with that? You’re aware of all those things?

No, everybody got their time when God’s opened their doors. No, my door isn’t open yet. Some point, they’re gonna be open, so. Obviously, soon or anytime, I know they’re going to be open, so if you look at what other people getting or doing or having, it’s gonna slow you down. So I’m not trying to be slowed down, trying to. I keep doing what I always do, you know? I’ve always been the guy that never had my way easier since high school, so things like that don’t phase me, ’cause at the end of the day, I know I always open my doors.

…

They were talking about adding some really big-name players, but they weren’t trading you, they didn’t trade you, like the same thing with Podziemski. Do you consider that a sign to you, that they’re keeping their young players?

I mean, I feel like Mike believes in us. There’s not too many people that are going to believe in young players, but I feel like Mike believes in the young guys he drafted, the young guys he’s been around and watching their process, how they’re growing, how they’re going to fit with some of the events we have, and I mean, it’s a blessing to still be here, you know? And I’m always thankful to be around and having Mike trusting us, but obviously, I feel like he didn’t make a bad choice. I see Brandin working, I see Moses, I see myself, I see Trayce, and I feel like the more we stick together, we have a great future.

…

How closely did you watch the Olympics and your teammate in that one? 

It was incredible the things he does you know you never know that man could go 0 for 60 in the first half; second half he could go 60 for 60. It was incredible and it was a big part of of them pulling that gold medal so I always appreciate just watching him sharing time on the court with him and just being around because once they’re not playing anymore, who we gonna be watching? So just seeing them just seeing him doing the things he does at his age, it’s incredible man. 

Do you feel your relationship with Steve Kerr has progressed? 

Oh no, me and him always, you know, this one thing I learned just growing up. I feel like you wouldn’t fight with anybody if you don’t like them. I mean I feel like me and Steve’s relationship is good. That’s why we always, we don’t fight. None of that, it’s just he’s always hard on me because he sees what probably I don’t see and he wants better for me. So you know, I’m excited to be coach under him again for my fourth year and help him. You gotta break your history, you gotta, he needs like 39 more games to break the Warriors history.

Oh, I didn’t even know that, I didn’t even know that. You’re keeping track of that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean, I’ve been on top of things a lot, so, I mean, I can’t wait, you know. I have been talking to him, just seeing where he’s at, checking on him, he’s been checking on me. And it’s just exciting, you know, to have me here and to coach me again.