Steve Kerr “Got the Last Laugh” After Jonathan Kuminga’s Embarrassing Performance in Hawks Elimination, Says NBA Nation

For Kuminga individually, the loss is marred by a historical record no one wants. It caps of a season not with redemption for the young forward but with vindication for Steve Kerr. The forward found himself at the center of an unprecedented statistical meltdown in the decisive Game 6.

Kuminga became the first player in the play-by-play era that began in 1997 to record a +/- of -40 in the first half of a playoff game. He finished with 11 points, two rebounds and three assists, shooting 3-of-7 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. This staggering figure eclipsed the previous record of -39, set by Pacers player, Austin Croshere in a 2000 matchup between the Pacers and the Bucks.

For a player who arrived in Atlanta seeking to prove he was a franchise cornerstone, the performance served as a brutal reality check, especially given Jonathan Kuminga’s tumultuous history with the Golden State Warriors and their head coach Steve Kerr. Throughout his tenure in the Bay Area, JK’s relationship with Kerr was defined by a public tug-of-war over playing time and trust. While Kuminga’s camp often leaked frustrations regarding a lack of consistent opportunities, Kerr maintained that the young forward had yet to master the winning habits required for the Warriors’ system.

The Hawks learnt about the 23-year-old’s exact flaw that the Warriors knew about in this series. Despite the strong 19 and 21-point outings in the first two games, JK’s efficiency from the three-point line is disproportionate to his enthusiasm to shoot from there. His three-point stat in these series (0-of-2 in Game 1, 1-of-4 in Game 2, 2-of-4 in Game 3, 0-of-6 in Game 4 and 1-of-5 in Game 5) is a staggering reflection of undeveloped skills.