Steve Kerr shares what Warriors need from Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
On the first night of a Midwest back-to-back, the Warriors will be down several key contributors — namely stars Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green — against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Without those steady veterans, coach Steve Kerr needs a big night from Golden State’s second timeline, particularly two players who have struggled lately: Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. Before Saturday’s matchup in Cleveland, Kerr detailed some areas he needs to see improvement from that young duo.
“Well, JK, it’s always run the floor, take care of the ball — the turnovers have been an issue lately,” Kerr told reporters. “So I’m really urging him to get up the floor instead of, you know, holding back in the backcourt and asking for the ball. I want him to be the first guy down the floor, not the last. And I think that’s been an issue the last few games. I don’t think he’s running the floor that well.”
Kuminga had a strong start to the 2025-26 NBA season but hasn’t looked quite like himself since returning from a seven-game absence due to bilateral knee tendinitis.
Podziemski, on the other hand, has been thrust into a larger role while Curry is out with a quad contusion. But in Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Podziemski was a team-worst minus-20 in just under 20 minutes, while third-string point guard Pat Spencer was a team-best plus-17 in 24 minutes.
“And then with Brandin, he’s got to get off the ball early,” Kerr continued. “When he gets into trouble is when he tries too hard to make plays on his own, instead of doing what he does best, which is to move the ball and be part of a five-man group that is really executing.
“That’s why Pat has closed these last couple of games and played most of the fourth quarters, if not all, because he’s doing that. So Brandin needs to get back to just focusing on the things he does best.”
With Golden State missing practically all of their veterans on Saturday, Kerr needs Kuminga and Podziemski to return to form to have any chance at taking down a talented Cavaliers squad on the road.
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