Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addressed ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania’s report from Thursday, unveiling that forward Jonathan Kuminga demanded a trade.
Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Clears The Air
Slater and Charania detailed a fractured relationship between Kerr and Kuminga. In the wake of Kuminga’s trade demand, Kerr said that he and Kuminga’s relationship “is fine.”
“Our relationship is fine,” Kerr said. “There’s not a whole lot I can say about the other stuff. It’s just is what it is. Difficult situation for everybody.”
Steve Kerr’s comments on Jonathan Kuminga in the wake of his trade demand today:
“Our relationship is fine. There’s not a whole lot I can say about the other stuff. It’s just is what it is. Difficult situation for everybody.“ pic.twitter.com/uwCjtbHQUA
— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) January 16, 2026
Kuminga, who became eligible to be traded on Thursday, demanded a trade away from the Warriors after months of heated tension stemming from his offseason contract stalemate.
In September, Kuminga finally agreed to a two-year, $46.8 million deal with the Warriors to end a prolonged contract standoff. As part of the deal, he waived his inherent no-trade clause.
The club option in the second year is designed for either the Warriors or another team if and when Kuminga is traded before the Feb. 5 deadline this season.
Kuminga Hasn’t Played Since December
Slater added more details during Thursday’s episode of NBA Today:
“I had one source basically describe the current situation as a ‘complete waste of everybody’s time,'” he reported. “And I think the term ‘everybody’ matters there because obviously you have a player that has these ambitious career desires and at this point, feels a little held hostage by the organization.”
After starting the first 12 games of the season, Kuminga was demoted to a bench role due to missed shots and turnovers. He was then sidelined for seven games because of bilateral knee tendonitis.
Following a return to action in late November, Kuminga appeared in four games in a row, making another start on Dec. 6 in Cleveland, but he has been listed as DNP in 15 of Golden State’s past 18 games.
Kuminga was scratched ahead of a Jan. 2 home game due to lower back soreness, but “multiple team sources said they suspect Kuminga wasn’t actually hurt,” according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Nick Friedell.
One anonymous player told The Athletic that he “wouldn’t have played either” because “it’s clear the coach doesn’t believe in him.”
The five-year veteran hasn’t played since Dec. 18 at Philadelphia.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET.
