Jonathan Kuminga Proves Steve Kerr Wrong in 24-Minute, 'Great' Hawks Debut

jonathan kuminga made his long-awaited Atlanta Hawks debut on Tuesday evening and instantly made the case that he deserves a second chance in the NBA. In what has been described as a 'great' showing, the fifth-year swingman produced a burst of scoring and playmaking that contrasted sharply with his stalled development in Golden State.

Jonathan Kuminga's Hawks Debut

The G League Ignite product entered the game as the Hawks' sixth man, stepping onto the floor halfway through the first quarter. In his first possession he recorded an assist, then converted an easy transition layup a minute later and followed with an easy transition dunk another minute later. By the end of the opening period his line read 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.

First-quarter spark and quieter second quarter

Kuminga’s early aggressiveness — an immediate assist and successive transition scores — set the tone for his debut. The second quarter was comparatively muted: he grabbed two rebounds and did not record a shot attempt in that period. The sequence underlines a contrasting rhythm across the first half of the game that preceded his larger third-quarter outburst.

Third-quarter explosion and the 24-minute proving point

Checking in at the halfway point of the third quarter, Kuminga then erupted, rattling off a quick 18 points while adding 2 rebounds and another steal. The combination of his opening-quarter activity and that third-quarter burst form the basis for the claim that it took just 24 minutes for him to make his point about value and capability on the court.

Backstory with Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors

Kuminga arrived in Atlanta after a turbulent run in Golden State. Drafted seventh overall in 2021, he was part of a Finals-winning Warriors squad in his rookie season. Former teammate Draymond Green said Kuminga had been dealt a poor hand to start his career; the player’s trajectory included remaining in a supporting role rather than getting extended room to make mistakes and grow. After a successful third season in a limited role, Kuminga and Warriors coach Steve Kerr clashed over an 18-month period, 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.

Implications for the Atlanta Hawks

The immediate effect for Atlanta is clear: a player arriving from a restrictive situation produced tangible production in limited minutes, flashing scoring, playmaking and defensive activity across the first and third quarters. Because Kuminga had been constrained in Golden State and involved in a public clash with the Warriors’ coaching staff, his opportunity with the Hawks produced an accelerated impact; his early contributions helped reshape the narrative around his upside.

What makes this notable is that the performance combined playmaking (4 first-quarter assists), finishing at speed (transition layup and dunk in consecutive minutes) and a concentrated scoring surge (18 quick points in the third), all packed into the span highlighted as 24 minutes. The timing matters because it followed an 18-month stretch of public scrutiny and limited offensive responsibility under Warriors coach Steve Kerr, making the debut both a personal and professional statement.

Unclear in the provided context is how many total minutes Kuminga logged for the full game and how Atlanta plans to deploy him going forward; the available details focus on his entry point, sequence of plays, and statistical bursts. Still, the debut supplied multiple concrete markers — a first-possession assist, a three-play opening sequence, a 7-2-4-1 first-quarter line, two second-quarter rebounds with no shot attempts, and an 18-point third-quarter haul with 2 rebounds and a steal — that together demonstrate why the Hawks afforded him a fresh opportunity.

For Kuminga, the debut served as a public rebuttal to the period of stagnation in Golden State and the public friction with Steve Kerr. The on-court result on Tuesday evening provided a measurable impact that will shape immediate expectations in Atlanta while leaving longer-term questions about usage and consistency for the coaching staff to address.