Jonathan Kuminga's Most Improved Player Award Case Gets Better By the Day

It seems like somebody got through to Jonathan Kuminga. For years, all the Warriors were asking was for Kuminga to lean into his role: use his athleticism to be an elite defender, rebounder, and finisher. For the first few years of Kuminga’s career, he seemed more focused on his own scoring than on doing what was needed for the Warriors to win. After a tumultuous summer of contract negotiations, Kuminga has returned this season and looks like he is finally ready to do the little things.

Kuminga’s defense and rebounding have been incredible so far this season. He is often asked to guard the team’s best player and has done a solid job. Additionally, Kuminga’s rebounding has been the most obvious improvement in his game. 

“It’s one of those aspects of my game that I just needed to work on and to improve on. I sat down and rebuilt about what can I add to my game that’s not scoring,” said Kuminga on his rebounding. 

While Kuminga has only seen a slight increase in scoring this season, he is improved his rebounding by nearly three rebounds a game and has career highs in assists, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage. 

Right now, most sportsbooks have Kuminga as the ninth or tenth most likely player to win the Most Improved Player Award.

However, if he continues to provide the Warriors with excellent defense and sees his statistics improve, he could be in the running. Just imagine if the Warriors are a top-two seed, with Kuminga as their top defender and their third-highest scorer. He certainly should be considered for the Most Improved Player Award, then.