# Jonathan Kuminga
**Jonathan Kuminga** (born 2002) is a Congolese professional basketball forward who was selected seventh overall in the 2021 [NBA draft](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-draft) by the [Golden State Warriors](https://www.edgepedia.org/golden-state-warriors), won an NBA championship with them in 2022, and signed with the [Minnesota Timberwolves](https://www.edgepedia.org/minnesota-timberwolves) in September 2026 after a 2025–26 season split between the Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2002, in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo[1](https://stats.gleague.nba.com/player/1630228/) • [2](https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/hawks.pdf?embedded=true) |
| Physical profile | Forward, listed at 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds[1](https://stats.gleague.nba.com/player/1630228/) |
| Draft | 7th overall pick, 2021 NBA draft, Golden State Warriors[1](https://stats.gleague.nba.com/player/1630228/) |
| Before the NBA | 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game over 13 games for the G League Ignite in its inaugural season[3](https://gleague.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-selected-7th-overall-to-the-golden-state-warriors-in-the-2021-nba-draft) |
| Championship | 2022 NBA champion with the Warriors[4](https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-sign-jonathan-kuminga) |
| 2025–26 season | 36 games (14 starts), 12.2 points on 46.3% shooting, career-high 5.6 rebounds, and career-best 2.3 assists in 23.1 minutes per game between Golden State and Atlanta[4](https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-sign-jonathan-kuminga) |
| Current team | Minnesota Timberwolves, two-year, $13 million contract announced September 4, 2026[5](https://www.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-wolves-free-agency) |
| International play | Represented the DR Congo men's national team in the African 2023 World Cup Qualifiers[2](https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/hawks.pdf?embedded=true) |
## Early life and the G League Ignite
Kuminga grew up in Goma in the [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://www.edgepedia.org/democratic-republic-of-the-congo) and moved to the United States in 2016 to pursue basketball, finishing his high school career at The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey[3](https://gleague.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-selected-7th-overall-to-the-golden-state-warriors-in-the-2021-nba-draft). As a teenager on the Nike EYBL circuit and in prep school basketball in the New York and New Jersey area, he was ranked the No. 1 high school prospect in the class of 2021 before reclassifying to the class of 2020[3](https://gleague.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-selected-7th-overall-to-the-golden-state-warriors-in-the-2021-nba-draft). With offers from top college programs, he instead joined the G League Ignite, the NBA developmental team created for elite prospects, in its inaugural season[6](https://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/263233/Prospect-Report-Jonathan-Kuminga-Of-The-G-League-Ignite).
His one professional season before the draft was played in the G League bubble at the Disney complex near Orlando. In 13 games he averaged 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals in 32.8 minutes[3](https://gleague.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-selected-7th-overall-to-the-golden-state-warriors-in-the-2021-nba-draft). He shot 38.7 percent from the field and 24.6 percent from three in the bubble, and a foot injury kept him out of the Ignite's final games[7](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/2021-nba-draft-jonathan-kuminga-g-league-ignite-scouting-report-strengths-weaknesses-and-player-comparisons/11dsklbxfsdaw1v9u31g1umb4t). He entered the draft with a scouting profile built on size, strength, and defensive versatility, and a projection as a premier defender and secondary scorer[7](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/2021-nba-draft-jonathan-kuminga-g-league-ignite-scouting-report-strengths-weaknesses-and-player-comparisons/11dsklbxfsdaw1v9u31g1umb4t).
## Golden State Warriors, 2021–2026
The Warriors used the seventh pick of the 2021 draft on Kuminga, their first of two lottery selections that night[3](https://gleague.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-selected-7th-overall-to-the-golden-state-warriors-in-the-2021-nba-draft). Drafted as a teenager by a team competing for a championship, he had limited early playing time and usage[8](https://sports.yahoo.com/top-g-league-ignite-players-130953087.html). He was part of the Warriors team that won the 2022 NBA championship[4](https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-sign-jonathan-kuminga).
Through five seasons with Golden State he appeared in 40 career playoff games, four of them starts, averaging 8.0 points on 49.4% shooting and 1.9 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game[4](https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-sign-jonathan-kuminga). His role under coach [Steve Kerr](https://www.edgepedia.org/steve-kerr) was a recurring point of discussion; Spanish-language coverage described a relationship in which Kuminga was moved between starting and reserve roles and preferred isolated assignments over the Warriors' flowing passing offense[9](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/kuminga-warriors-un-pulso-agotador-n/).
## Trade to Atlanta and the 2025–26 season
At the February 5, 2026 trade deadline, the Warriors sent Kuminga and [Buddy Hield](https://www.edgepedia.org/buddy-hield) to the [Atlanta Hawks](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-hawks) in a trade that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Golden State[10](https://apnews.com/article/d4122fece6c1115cfdb8733d51e70bb1). In 36 games between the two teams, with 14 starts, Kuminga averaged 12.2 points on 46.3% shooting, a career-high 5.6 rebounds, and a career-best 2.3 assists in 23.1 minutes per game[4](https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-sign-jonathan-kuminga). He appeared in Atlanta's first-round playoff series against the [New York Knicks](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-knicks), including a 25-point, 10-rebound, two-assist game on 10-of-18 shooting in 31 minutes[2](https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/hawks.pdf?embedded=true).
## Free agency and Minnesota
Atlanta declined the team option on Kuminga's contract in mid-2026, making him a free agent pursued by several teams; the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.edgepedia.org/los-angeles-lakers), Cleveland Cavaliers, and [Milwaukee Bucks](https://www.edgepedia.org/milwaukee-bucks) were reported among the clubs exploring his services[11](https://as.com/baloncesto/los-lakers-tienen-nuevo-objetivo-jonathan-kuminga-f202607-n/). He signed a two-year, $13 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, officially announced on September 4, 2026[5](https://www.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-wolves-free-agency). He had offers from the Lakers, the [Chicago Bulls](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-bulls), and the Portland Trail Blazers, but chose Minnesota on a shorter-term deal, with Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards part of the recruitment process[5](https://www.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-wolves-free-agency). Minnesota placed him in its starting rotation at forward alongside Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert[5](https://www.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-wolves-free-agency).
## Playing style
Kuminga's game has rested on athleticism and direct on-ball scoring, with perimeter shooting and consistency as the recurring development areas. Pre-draft scouting credited his size, strength, quickness, and 7-foot wingspan with the ability to defend multiple positions, while flagging inconsistent defensive focus, a tendency toward tunnel vision as a playmaker, and the need for a more reliable jump shot[7](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/2021-nba-draft-jonathan-kuminga-g-league-ignite-scouting-report-strengths-weaknesses-and-player-comparisons/11dsklbxfsdaw1v9u31g1umb4t). His career shooting numbers reflect the same pattern: strong finishing efficiency inside, 49.4% in playoff games, against a three-point shot still in development[4](https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-sign-jonathan-kuminga).
## References
1. [Jonathan Kuminga player profile, NBA G League stats](https://stats.gleague.nba.com/player/1630228/)
2. [Atlanta Hawks game notes: Jonathan Kuminga, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/hawks.pdf?embedded=true)
3. [Jonathan Kuminga Selected 7th Overall To The Golden State Warriors In The 2021 NBA Draft, NBA G League](https://gleague.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-selected-7th-overall-to-the-golden-state-warriors-in-the-2021-nba-draft)
4. [Timberwolves Sign Jonathan Kuminga, Minnesota Timberwolves](https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-sign-jonathan-kuminga)
5. [Jonathan Kuminga agrees to 2-year deal with Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/news/jonathan-kuminga-wolves-free-agency)
6. [Prospect Report: Jonathan Kuminga of the G League Ignite, RealGM](https://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/263233/Prospect-Report-Jonathan-Kuminga-Of-The-G-League-Ignite)
7. [2021 NBA Draft: Jonathan Kuminga scouting report, Sporting News](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/2021-nba-draft-jonathan-kuminga-g-league-ignite-scouting-report-strengths-weaknesses-and-player-comparisons/11dsklbxfsdaw1v9u31g1umb4t)
8. [How top G League Ignite players have performed in the NBA, Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/top-g-league-ignite-players-130953087.html)
9. [Kuminga-Warriors, un pulso agotador, AS](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/kuminga-warriors-un-pulso-agotador-n/)
10. [Antetokounmpo remains with Bucks as an extremely hectic NBA trade deadline passes, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/d4122fece6c1115cfdb8733d51e70bb1)
11. [Los Lakers van a por Kuminga, AS](https://as.com/baloncesto/los-lakers-tienen-nuevo-objetivo-jonathan-kuminga-f202607-n/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › Current NBA players › Small forwards*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license