From starter, to bench, and a DNP, that was the trajectory of Jonathan Kuminga in just a month. All while the trade market for him is wide open. When this happened last year, it created a lot of friction between the coach and player. But this season, head coach Steve Kerr and Jonathan Kuminga have taken different approaches.

Kuminga took the latest DNP with grace and touted the betterment of the team, which had a win after a long time. He recently claimed he asked Kerr to push him harder. During that, insiders allege that JK has felt ‘scapegoated.’

The forward was at practice today, and things are seemingly positive. Kerr told reporters today, “He had a great practice today. We had a talk before practice. He did the things I asked him to do.”

He also addressed the rumors going around and took responsibility for Kuminga’s trajectory. “I do feel for him that he has been sort of at the whim of my decision-making based on what I want to see from our team.”

The Warriors’ head coach later laid out his expectations by saying, “I can imagine it’s not easy…My desire is for JK to be the best player he can be, regardless of where he ends up, here or elsewhere.”

It’s hard to see Kerr’s public statement doing anything to mend Kuminga’s relationship with the franchise. It was effectively fractured when a healthy and available Jonathan Kuminga got his first DNP of the season by the coach.

Before he hurt his knee, his shooting efficiency had already suffered a decline. He was averaging 12.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists at a 43.8% efficiency from the field in 17 games. It had dropped to 30% and Kerr seemed to prefer Will Richard and Gui Santos in the rotation.

Kuminga was delegated to the bench before he had rehabbed his injury. It seemingly caused the same bitterness that soured Kuminga and Kerr’s dynamic last year.

Jonathan Kuminga’s potential is severely undersold

When Kuminga was injured, analysts feared for his future if the Warriors win games without him. Without Stephen Curry. Draymond Green, and Al Horford, and while Jonathan Kuminga was benched, Jimmy Butler led the Warriors to a 123-91 win over the Chicago Bulls. Kerr noted that the rotation changes were necessary depending on how the team is playing.

Kuminga seemingly took the DNP on the chin. “As long as things are working out there and we winning, I don’t see the point of switching anything, changing. Whenever my number get called, I’ll be ready…” He said.

While this is JK’s public sentiment, insiders claim he feels ‘scapegoated.’ Kerr previously acknowledged that he’s working hard to earn his way back into the rotation. However, the Warriors are also looking at the very strong possibility of trading him.

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Apparently, Sacramento is still keen on acquiring Kuminga. But analysts like Bill Simmons are concerned that Kerr is killing JK’s chances of a viable trade.

With that DNP, Simmons states teams across the league will ask a big question. “Why do I want to pay him $22 million a year? The Warriors won’t even play him, and they need somebody like him…”

That’s a very real scenario. So Kerr accepting that he’s squandering Kuminga’s potential is not going to change that he’s undervaluing him.