Jonathan Kuminga on coming to Minnesota, 'I think I'll say it's one of the best decisions I made'
Jonathan Kuminga turned down more guaranteed money from the Lakers — nearly twice as much per year — and elsewhere to come to Minnesota on a two-year, $13 million contract that could have him back on the free agent market next summer. Kuminga is betting on himself. Again.
It’s not the decision every free agent would make, but Kuminga sounded comfortable with it in his introductory press conference in Minnesota Thursday.
“Just looking back, I think I’ll say it’s one of the best decisions I made,” Kuminga said of coming to Minnesota. “Just looking at the roster, looking at the young group of guys they have, and just seeing what they’ve done in the past and things that they’re trying to accomplish going forward.”
Kuminga also said all the right things about fitting into a role with this team, where he often won’t have the ball in his hands because that role falls more to Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. Fitting into a role has not been Kuminga’s strength (just ask Steve Kerr), but he sees a fit.
“I think my game, my mentality, pretty much everything fit well with the group. It don’t matter what it is,” Kuminga said. “They could put me wherever: running the floor, screen, defend, play fast, whatever it is. I feel like I could come in, be one of the best defenders.”
Kuminga talked about how Edwards called him nearly every single day to recruit him. He also talked about his excitement of playing with LaMelo.
“I was watching him work out yesterday. I was watching him doing certain things, and just the way he passed the ball — it’s incredible,” Kuminga said. “I mean, I play with so many point guards in my career, but I never played with somebody that could pass as good as LaMelo, so I think I’m looking forward to it.”
Kuminga talked a lot about defense — Edwards’ focus on that was one of the draws for Kuminga, according to reports — and specifically the freedom he will have knowing Rudy Gobert is behind him.
“I could be myself on defense, I will be more aggressive because I know I have a shot blocker, and he’s done it so many times,” Kuminga said.
Tim Connelly and the Minnesota decision makers took a big gamble this offseason, moving on from Julius Randle, Naz Reid and a style of play that had been successful — but seemed to run into a wall — to bring in LaMelo, Kuminga, and to radically reshape the style of play. It’s going to take coach Chris Finch a little time to find the rotations and systems that work, but by the holidays we should have a better sense of just how good this team will be.
And just how well Kuminga fits into all of it.
