Steve Kerr has gradually reduced Jonathan Kuminga's role over the course of the season and made him a DNP during the Golden State Warriors' victory against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 7.
The fifth-year forward is likely on his last legs in Golden State for a variety of reasons. He is not a good fit in the Warriors' system, has been deemed a ball-stopper, is inconsistent, does not provide much defensive value, and reportedly wants a bigger role (h/t Adam Taylor of Warriors Wire).
A Warriors-Kuminga breakup seems to be inevitable, and it's likely to happen this season. And while it's not the exact same situation, the Indiana Pacers should look at this as a cautionary tale and be thrilled that their story with Bennedict Mathurin looks completely different despite having some of the same factors.
Bennedict Mathurin and Jonathan Kuminga have similar stories
Mathurin and Kuminga have a lot in common. They were both top-10 draft picks, have high upside but are not good fits in their respective systems, aren't great defensively, are ball-stoppers, have had inconsistent minutes throughout their careers, and may be deserving of a bigger role than they currently have.
The thing is, one of them is in the midst of what looks like a bitter end, whereas the other is flourishing this season. Fortunately for Mathurin and the Pacers, they are the latter.
While Kuminga is struggling to stick in Golden State, Mathurin is in the midst of a career year. Without Tyrese Haliburton or Myles Turner, the Canadian native is taking on the biggest role of his career so far as he looks to secure a new contract in Indiana. And so far, he's making the most of it.
In 13 games this season (all starts), Mathurin is averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 46% from the field and 43% from deep. He still has his problems (such as averaging 2.9 turnovers per game), but he is constantly proving how valuable he is to the Pacers. Plus, he is improving his all-around game, and head coach Rick Carlisle has noticed (h/t Ben Gibson of iPacers.com).
“He’s taking the toughest matchup on the planet at one end, and at the other end, he’s putting the ball in the basket. And so you can see the growth. You know, the reads are getting better and better,” Rick Carlisle said about Bennedict Mathurin after the Pacers' season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder
The biggest question about Mathurin was whether he could be a good long-term fit in Indiana. But if this season is any indication so far, the answer's yes. He is becoming a more well-rounded player while still being the same Mathurin that can create his own shot and put the ball on the ground at a high level.
It remains to be seen exactly what happens with the Arizona alum and the Pacers, but at this rate, the team may have no choice but to bring him back in the offseason. The same cannot be said for Kuminga and the Warriors, however, whose story has taken a drastically different turn.