Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors is having the best season of his career and has earned his permanent spot in the team’s lineup.
Kuminga has found inspiration from a number of places, including other NBA stars.
Speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area, Kuminga compared himself to Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I see a similarity, most of the time when I get closer to the rim,” Kuminga said.
He added: “Sometimes even if it’s a bigger guy in the paint, I finish over them, and Giannis is the best at doing it no matter who’s in front of him, he’s going to find his way to get there.”
“I’m not as big as Giannis but obviously I look, I watch certain things that he does when he gets to the rim. And I came in and just practice, watch film, looking at things that he does well, and just try it,” he concluded.
Jonathan Kuminga told @MontePooleNBCS and @KerithBurke he believes he shares similar qualities to Giannis Antetokounmpo 👀 https://t.co/fFOqui3Xcd
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 18, 2024
No matter how the season ends, the Warriors will be excited for the seasons ahead because of the proven talent of multiple up-and-coming stars on the roster.
At the front of that pack is Kuminga, who is averaging 16.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, shooting 53% from the floor.
If he is going to model his game after anyone, he is wise to look up to Antetokounmpo.
At 6-foot-8, Kuminga isn’t the biggest player in the league but he has studied the work of Antetokounmpo and has picked up a few tricks from him.
One of them is the ability to finish at the basket, despite the size of the opponent in his way.
This has led to some explosive moments from Kuminga, who has become a powerful and dominant force, especially in the paint.
The Warriors still have their fair share of problems but Kuminga’s progress during 2023-24 hasn’t been one of them.
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