January 6th 2025.
On a Sunday afternoon, in the bustling locker room of the Golden State Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga sat at his locker, his attention divided between his phone and the pile of shoes in front of him. A Warriors staff member approached him, carrying a set of NBA-sized crutches and placing them at his side. Kuminga's face fell as he processed the news that he would not be joining his teammates on the court for the next month.
The previous day, during the Warriors' game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Kuminga had twisted his ankle in the second quarter. Despite his efforts to play through the pain, an MRI on Sunday revealed that the sprain was significant and he would not be re-evaluated for another three weeks. This meant that Kuminga would be missing out on at least 11 games, a tough blow for both him and the team.
Head coach Steve Kerr expressed his disappointment before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings, acknowledging Kuminga's recent stellar performance on the court. He had become a reliable second option to Steph Curry and had even scored 30 points in a game three times in the past month. Kerr also noted Kuminga's athleticism and energy, making his absence a tough loss for the team. However, he remained optimistic about the depth and abilities of the team, with players like Kyle Anderson and Moses Moody stepping up to fill the void.
For Kuminga, who had been on a roll in recent games, this injury could not have come at a worse time. He expressed his frustration at not being able to be out on the court with his team during this exciting period, but remained focused on getting better every day. He planned to watch film and stay connected with his teammates to keep the same spirit and energy while he recovered. Despite his disappointment, Kuminga was determined to stay positive and trust the guidance of the training staff.
As for the injury itself, Kuminga admitted that it was not the worst ankle sprain he had experienced, but he knew as soon as he hit the ground that it was serious. He had to be helped off the court and never returned to the bench. In his absence, Andrew Wiggins stepped up with 22 points in the second half, and would be expected to take on a larger scoring burden in the coming weeks. Kerr also mentioned the role that Kyle Anderson would play, despite not being in the regular rotation. Anderson, known as "SloMo" for his unique style, brings a different skillset to the team with his basketball IQ and size.
Despite the unfortunate timing of his injury, Kuminga remained in good spirits and joked about his young body recovering quickly. He trusted the training staff to guide him through the recovery process and was hopeful to return to the court sooner than the projected three weeks. In the meantime, he would focus on getting better and supporting his team from the sidelines.
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