Jonathan Kuminga’s Warriors return has obvious benefits, but he also sets back their offensive spacing.
The addition of veteran center Al Horford hopes to help with that at times, although we didn’t get a good enough preview of the two on the floor together during Golden State’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Still, Horford already sees the value in playing alongside Kuminga in his first season with the Warriors.
“I think it’s great. JK with his athleticism and the way that he moves, and how much pressure he generates on the rim, it’s going to be great,” Horford told reporters after practice Tuesday. “With me and him, I feel like I’ll be able to give him some space, and he probably won’t always have an extra defender there. And if he does, then I’m going to be open, and either I’m going to shoot it or we’re going to get a really good shot. So I think it’s really good.
“And he’s the type of player where it’s fun to play with a guy like that, because the pace that he wants to play at and how he wants to attack the basket — I actually enjoy playing in that way. I know we played very little last game, but I’m sure we’ll continue to play more and more, and get more familiar with one another.”
In just a few weeks, Horford already has demonstrated the impact he can have on all his Warriors teammates.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, however, said he’s looking forward the most to the combination of Horford and Kuminga.
“I think that’s a two-man combo that could make some sense,” Kerr told reporters last week. “With JK, we want to give him space when he’s got the ball. Al can do that. So, if JK’s at the four, Al’s at the five and we put shooters around those guys, that could be an interesting combination.”
It will be a case of trial by fire for the Warriors, but if Horford is a solution to the longtime concern of Kuminga’s fit, that’s certainly good news for Golden State.
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