SAN FRANCISCO — Before the Warriors took on the short-handed Hornets at home on Tuesday night, Steve Kerr met with Jonathan Kuminga to watch some film.
The two reviewed his clips from earlier this year, but also added a new wrinkle: Jimmy Butler plays.
Kuminga has been sidelined by a severe, Grade 3 ankle sprain since Jan. 4. He’s been scrimmaging, which is one of the final steps toward getting cleared. When he returns, he’ll join the paragon of the Warriors’ newfound swagger in Butler. He could be somewhat of a model for the 22-year-old to take another leap.
“I think Jimmy’s the perfect guy for JK to emulate,” Kerr said. “What makes Jimmy special is that he doesn’t try to be special. He plays fundamental basketball. The constant fundamental play, he never turns it over, just makes the simple play over and over again. I want JK to learn some of that. He’s so explosive. I think it’s always hardest for the guys who are the most talented to make decisions because they’ve got too many options at their disposal. So I’m hoping that he can learn from Jimmy.”
Kerr said he knows Butler will spend time with Kuminga and help teach him tricks of the trade. Butler is among the league’s best at drawing fouls, which is also a strength of Kuminga’s — but one that could be honed even more.
Butler has been playing off two feet since college, a trait the Warriors love. It helps him limit turnovers and execute smart decisions under pressure, making him their “designated driver.” Kuminga’s more of a one-footed jumper in the lane, with elite athleticism to rise above defenders and finish at the rim.
“Understanding that attacking the rim, nothing there, jump stop, pass the ball — that’s a great basketball play,” Kerr said. “Especially for us, because Steph Curry’s on the other end of the play a lot.”
Kuminga was playing the best ball of his career before his injury. He racked up double-digit points in 17 straight games — including three 30-point games — while making a consistent impact defensively and on the boards.
The team plans to bring Kuminga off the bench whenever returns, just like they were doing before his injury. The Warriors have maneuvered their rotation to play Curry with four bench players at times, so it’s easy to imagine Kuminga slotting into those lineup configurations as another shot-creator.
The training staff will determine exactly when Kuminga will return, but the upcoming five-game, four-city road trip appears to be a distinct possibility. Whenever he gets back on the court, he’ll have missed about two months, which is by far the longest absence of his career.
“The main thing I want for JK is to not press when he comes back,” Kerr said. “It’s not an easy spot to come back into. The team’s rolling. Contract stuff this summer, he’s going to have a lot on his mind. I want to make things as smooth and easy as possible. I want him to understand it’s not going to happen right away. He was playing the best basketball of his career before the injury, and it’s not going to happen the first night that he gets back to that level. It’ll take a little time.”
Hornets injuries
LaMelo Ball is among a slew of Charlotte Hornets unavailable for Tuesday night’s game. The Warriors won three straight entering the contest, marking their first winning streak since their 12-3 start in November.
Brandon Miller, Grant Williams, Tidjane Salaun, Tre Mann and Josh Okogie also didn’t suit up.
Taran Armstrong update
The Warriors signed Taran Armstrong to a two-way deal, though the transaction isn’t official yet so Kerr couldn’t comment.
Armstrong was listed on the official injury report as not with the team.
A 6-foot-6, 23-year-old point guard, Armstrong has averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game in the top league in Australia.
2015 nostalgia party
The Warriors are celebrating their first championship team of the dynastic era by honoring Festus Ezeli, Brandon Rush and Marresse Speights at halftime. Each player took the podium to address the media before the game as well in front of a picture of them celebrating together in Cleveland.
They couldn’t believe how time has flown by and said they cherished the unique culture — on and off the court — that flourished 10 years ago. Speights is the director of player development at his alma mater of South Florida and Rush is coaching youth basketball.
“Being here is special,” Speights said. “Seeing that picture right there just brings back those feelings of winning and the parade and all that kind of stuff. It’s definitely a blessing. It changed all our lives.”
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