Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the deadline to negotiate an extension is fast approaching.
The 21-year-old, who signed a four-year, $24.8 million deal in 2021, has until October 31 to secure an extension with Golden State.
If no agreement is reached by the deadline, Kuminga will enter restricted free agency next summer.
Despite the uncertainty, Kuminga remains focused on his game and personal development rather than stressing over the contract situation.
“I haven’t really got into it that much,” Kuminga told Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard. “I don’t want to step my foot off track. I’m focusing on how can I be great?”
Kuminga emphasized that performance on the court will ultimately determine the outcome of his contract talks.
“The better you play, the more you do things, everything’s going to open up itself,” Kuminga said.
He also made it clear that he isn’t worried about things he can’t control, such as the timing of his next deal.
“I’m not worried about things like that because I know who I am, I know myself. At the end of the day, it’s just having an opportunity,” he added.
Kuminga expressed his faith in timing, noting that he believes his moment to shine will come when the time is right.
“It’s God’s plan, so I’m not even tripping or thinking about it day to day. Whenever it happens, it’s going to happen,” Kuminga explained.
Though Kuminga remains positive, there’s no certainty that his long-term future will be with the Warriors.
When asked about the possibility of staying in Golden State, Kuminga said he would love for it to happen, but acknowledged that the future is unpredictable.
“I mean, who knows? I would love to. It’s God’s plan. I don’t know my future. I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said.
Kuminga’s third season with the Warriors showed significant growth, as he averaged career-highs with 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
For comparison, his numbers in the 2022-23 season were 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 20.8 minutes per game.
The improvement on the court has raised his profile, making his upcoming contract talks even more pivotal for his future with the franchise.
Despite the pressure that comes with entering the final year of a contract, Kuminga is determined to maintain his focus and not let external factors slow him down.
“If you look at what other people are getting or doing or having, it’s going to slow you down. So I’m not trying to slow down,” Kuminga stated.
