Jonathan Kuminga shines in 'great' Hawks debut, proves a point in 24 minutes
jonathan kuminga made his long-awaited Atlanta Hawks debut on Tuesday evening, and in roughly 24 minutes he delivered a performance that framed the move as a fresh start. The fifth-year swingman’s burst of energy and immediate impact matters because it put a spotlight on a player who has spent years seeking a clearer role.
Jonathan Kuminga's long-awaited Hawks debut and immediate plays
Kuminga entered the game as the sixth man, checking in halfway through the first quarter. He left an imprint on his first touches: an assist on his first possession, an easy transition layup about a minute later, and an easy transition dunk another minute after that. By the end of the first quarter he had 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.
First-half rhythm, quieter second quarter and explosive third
The second quarter was quieter for Kuminga; he grabbed two rebounds without recording a shot attempt. In the third quarter, however, he went off. Checking in at the halfway point of that quarter, the debutant racked up a quick 18 points, 2 rebounds and another steal, a stretch that helped define the 24-minute case many described coming out of the game.
Past hurdles with Golden State, draft pedigree and early promise
Kuminga was drafted seventh overall in 2021 and arrived in the NBA as a G League Ignite product. He was part of a Finals-winning squad in his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors, a situation that some, including his former teammate Draymond Green, have said left him with a poor hand to start his career.
Limited role, expectations after a strong third season and coaching friction
After a successful third season in a limited role, Kuminga likely expected Warriors coach Steve Kerr to integrate him as a focal point of the offense, but that integration never occurred. The two then clashed over 18 long months, with Kerr making multiple public comments at Kuminga’s expense while Kuminga never returned to his third-year peak.
Trade to Atlanta and what the debut signaled
Eventually, Kuminga was shipped to Atlanta for pennies on the dollar. His debut for the Hawks on Tuesday evening — entering as the sixth man, producing immediate assists and transition scores, posting first-quarter totals of 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal, a quiet second quarter with two rebounds and no shot attempts, then a third-quarter burst of 18 points, 2 rebounds and another steal — framed the move as a second chance in the NBA.
The short chronology here is stark: drafted seventh overall in 2021, tied to a Finals-winning Warriors team in his rookie season, described by Draymond Green as having been dealt a poor hand, a limited role into his third season, an 18-month clash with Steve Kerr, a trade for pennies on the dollar, and a Hawks debut that supplied a fast, visible response on the court.
