Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga didn't waste any time in making a strong first impression with his new team.
There’s no better feeling than dominating in your debut with a new team, and ex-Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga certainly shined in his with the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. He recorded a season-high 27 points in the Hawks’ 119-98 victory over the Washington Wizards. It came after Kuminga missed the first six games with Atlanta due to a left knee bone bruise, and he made the most in his first action back. He also added seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals on the night. After spending a large part of his career in Golden State riding the bench, Kuminga took the moment and seized it to shine.
He did come off the bench for the Hawks, checking in midway through the first. His impact was apparent outright. Kuminga was dunking, hitting 3-pointers, and was playing quite free. He played for nearly 24.5 minutes after All-Star forward Jalen Johnson exited in the first quarter with a hip flexor injury. He proved valuable to Atlanta’s rotation, something that continued to dwindle when with the Warriors, which is when he eventually asked out. Golden State was able to recoup Kristaps Porzingis, while it’s clear that Kuminga is rejuvenated by a change of scenery.
Here is the full story from Hawks Roundtable writer Grant Afseth on Kuminga’s impressive debut.
Of course, the narratives that surround Kuminga focus on his departure from Golden State, and whether this was an attempt to send some sort of message. Kuminga made it clear postgame that he was trying to win and just play basketball. He certainly did that for Atlanta on Tuesday while proving valuable as a depth piece and potential impact player.