READ ALSO..

How Jonathan Kuminga made the most of a golden opportunity

If their flirtation with landing LeBron James wasn’t enough of an indication, the Warriors indeed are examining the NBA’s upper echelon for a top-tier running mate alongside Stephen Curry. They explored scenarios that would have brought Pascal Siakam to Golden State, league sources told Yahoo Sports, and considered making a run at Dejounte Murray. If an All-Star becomes available this summer, if James does look elsewhere, if Paul George doesn’t re-sign with the Clippers — if, if, if — then expect Golden State to weigh the cost and upside of slotting said talent next to the game’s greatest shooter.

So long as Curry keeps sniping at his historic clip — even at 35, he recently became the first NBA player to drain seven 3-pointers in four consecutive games — the Warriors have shown they’ll operate to pursue another banner. And so it’s been on this season’s darkest of nights, such as Jan. 4, when Golden State wilted against Denver, that Curry’s singular shooting has stood underneath its sharpest of lights. There had been no sidekick, no one qualified to help frontline what remains one of the league’s most thrilling shows. Until Golden State’s 21-year-old lottery pick stepped forward, just before it could have become too late.

You see, Jonathan Kuminga watched the Warriors fumble that 18-point advantage to the Nuggets over the game’s final 18 minutes — all from his familiar seat on Steve Kerr’s bench. Come morning, The Athletic reported Kuminga had “lost faith” the Warriors’ storied coach would give the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft a chance to maximize his potential, harnessed so clearly within his powerful legs.