Dyson Daniels revealed what separates Jonathan Kuminga from the pack after the forward averaged 14.6 points in five games with the Atlanta Hawks.
For most young players in the NBA, getting traded midseason is never easy, especially when they haven't received much playing time with their previous team. Naturally, it makes it harder for them to contribute to their new franchise. But Jonathan Kuminga has shown remarkable confidence since joining the Atlanta Hawks.
After struggling to find consistent playing time with the Golden State Warriors, Kuminga hasn't let that hamper his confidence. The 23-year-old spent parts of five seasons in Golden State, never quite finding a defined role alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. A change of scenery was overdue, and Atlanta gave him exactly that.
Instead of pressing, Kuminga has made such a thorough impact with his new franchise that even Dyson Daniels felt compelled to acknowledge and praise his leadership.
In five games with Atlanta, Kuminga has averaged 14.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 54.8 percent from the field. Beyond scoring, his presence has been felt on the glass, in transition, and in disrupting opposing possessions. His energy and productivity fit right into the Hawks' culture, something Daniels was quick to appreciate.
For Daniels, what stood out most was Kuminga's communication — making clear to teammates how he operates and what he expects. That assertiveness has helped Kuminga quickly establish credibility in the locker room, no small thing for a player who only recently arrived.
"He's been huge for us coming in. The thing people don't recognize is that he's a very vocal leader. He's one of the guys who has stepped up, held people accountable. He's out there doing his thing — scoring, defending," Daniels said. "Doing everything he needed to do, and he's fit right in."
Atlanta faces one of its biggest tests of the season when it hosts the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. The Hawks enter the contest riding a nine-game winning streak, their longest since the 2014-15 season. It's a run that has quietly repositioned Atlanta as one of the Eastern Conference's most dangerous teams. Orlando, however, presents a genuine challenge — the Magic have won seven straight themselves and entered the week playing some of their best basketball of the year.
The Magic sit fifth in the Eastern Conference at 38-29, while Atlanta is eighth at 37-31. A Hawks win would clinch the season series and hand them the tiebreaker over Orlando if the standings come down to it — making Kuminga's availability all the more important. He has been in and out of the lineup lately due to left knee injury management.
High-stakes moments like these are exactly why the Hawks showed faith in acquiring Kuminga. Whether he can deliver remains to be seen.