It took Jonathan Kuminga just 24 minutes to prove Steve Kerr wrong

Jonathan Kuminga made his long-awaited Atlanta Hawks debut on Tuesday evening, and the fifth-year swingman delivered a short, electric showing that instantly argued he deserves a second chance in the NBA.

Jonathan Kuminga's long-awaited Hawks debut

Kuminga entered the game as the sixth man, checking in halfway through the first quarter. He opened his Hawks tenure by logging an assist on his first possession, then followed with an easy transition layup a minute later and an easy transition dunk another minute after that. By the end of the first quarter he had accumulated 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.

First-half lull, third-quarter eruption

The second quarter was quieter for Kuminga; he grabbed two rebounds and did not record a shot attempt in that period. The third quarter, however, was where he exploded. Checking in at the halfway point of that quarter, the debutant racked up a quick 18 points, added 2 rebounds and recorded another steal in the same stretch.

From prospect to constrained role: what preceded the debut

Kuminga entered Atlanta’s rotation after a start to his career that many have characterized as difficult. Drafted seventh overall in 2021, the G League Ignite product was part of a Finals-winning squad in his rookie season. That environment, while successful for the team, limited his chance to make mistakes and learn; it kept him in a supporting role rather than allowing him to experiment as a star.

Clash with Steve Kerr and the end of the Golden State chapter

After a successful third season in a limited role, Kuminga likely expected Warriors coach Steve Kerr to make him a more central part of the offense, but that integration never happened. The two clashed over 18 long months, during which Kerr made multiple public comments at Kuminga’s expense and Kuminga did not return to his third-year peak. Eventually, he was shipped to Atlanta for pennies on the dollar.

Why this 24-minute burst matters

The sequence in Atlanta — instant impact upon entry, a tidy box of counting stats in the first quarter, a quiet second frame, then a sudden third-quarter onslaught — encapsulates the promise Kuminga carries and the volatility that has dogged his early career. His immediate playmaking on the first possession, the quick transition scores and the mid-quarter scoring flare demonstrate a mix of instincts and finishing ability that were often underused before his move.

Outlook: a second chance framed by a single night

Tuesday evening’s performance framed Kuminga as a player who can change momentum quickly and who benefits from being allowed to play freely. This debut did more than fill a stat sheet: it offered a direct rebuttal to the narrative of underdevelopment that followed him. The full arc of his time in Atlanta remains to be written; recent events show a player taking the first step toward reclaiming the trajectory many expected when he was selected seventh overall in 2021.