An exceptional architect knows that the foundation of a building must be precise and functional. They understand that the foundation is not just important but essential. With a solid foundation, anything in life, including a successful franchise, will be able to thrive.
The Miami Heat are fortunate to have one of the world’s best architects at the helm — coach Erik Spoelstra. Different individuals are responsible for different things but, under Spoelstra’s leadership, the main thing stays the main thing: winning at any cost.
Miami Heat v Golden State Warriors
This franchise-wide mentality of unity and focus is a cornerstone of the organization’s stability. Spoelstra, who just signed a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid coach in the NBA (well deserved), has been a constant presence at the helm since 2008-2009, providing a steady hand and consistent leadership.
Spo has allowed many players to maximize their potential under his tutelage. Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, 2018 Josh Richardson, Hassan Whiteside, Haywood Highsmith, and Duncan Robinson all thrived under Spo, becoming the best versions of themselves. None of these players were lottery picks with off-the-chart athleticism.
Now, imagine what Spo could do with a player with that type of potential.
Warriors wing wants consistency
The seventh-overall pick in the 2021 draft, Jonathan Kuminga has been frustrated with his role with the Golden State Warriors. He’s lost faith in the Warriors, to put it more broadly. He’s averaging 22.6 minutes, only three more minutes than his sophomore campaign.
Kuminga has yet to be able to shine in the Bay Area like he planned on. With some of the significant holes in his game, four-time champion coach Steve Kerr doesn’t trust Kuminga. But you have to put players in a position to thrive. Exceptional architects know that each building requires different things.
The 21-year-old is flawed but has many strengths that Spo would maximize. Let’s start with Kuminga’s next-level bounce. He’s an ultra-explosive athlete with a pogo stick stationary jump.
This play is otherworldly. Kuminga is standing on the block anticipating a lob from the playmaking big Draymond Green. Instead of just catching the lob and throwing it down, Kuminga gets in his bag and displays his 99th-percentile athleticism. That’s abnormal vertical jumping.
It was a two-point game in the clutch when this freak play occurred. This shows us that Kuminga is used to making plays like this, and he’s just a natural leaper, greeting the rim at eye level like he’s about to blow at a cupcake like Gerald Green.
Poor Jayson Tatum is down in the paint, getting tossed around like a rag doll with Kuminga around. Kuminga bullied him to get into position to score and soared over him like a hawk searching for food to complete an emphatic dunk. Tatum was food for Kuminga that night. He made embarrassing an All-NBA player look easy.
Kuminga’s athleticism and jacked build aid his finishing ability. His broad shoulders are bricked and rare for one who’s only 21. His “man body” hasn’t come yet. Still, he’s a physically imposing dude. He shields off defenders using his body, absorbing bumps, and goes right through defenders.
He can get off shots around the rim from many different angles. Underhand layups, strength-based layups, pure blow-bys, reverse layups, off-hand finishes, and contact dunks are all in his arsenal. Kuminga is shooting an astonishing 75% at the rim; this number ranks in the 91st percentile amongst wings.
Areas of improvement
That’s where his strengths lie; he’s an excellent athlete and finisher, and his on-ball defense is something to desire. His flaws are evident as well. But Steve Kerr isn’t Spo, respectfully. These flaws would be hidden and improved on in Miami.
Kuminga isn’t a reliable 3-point shooter (33% for his career), and his jumper overall could be better. His handle could tighten up to exploit defenders more on his way to the basket. He gets caught ball-watching frequently. But his on-ball defense is similar to Haywood Highsmith in a sense. Long, physical guys that get into opponents causing discomfort. I can already picture Kuminga at the top of the Heat’s 1-3-1 zone, causing havoc.
The Warriors are committed to their core trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, per reports. Kuminga was starting to get his feet wet over the last month with Draymond out due to suspension. With Green returning to the team soon, Kuminga’s minutes may fluctuate again.
If the Warriors don’t seriously want to develop a raw talent like Kuminga, sell the property to Spo and the Miami Heat. He will make it work. With the solid foundation Spo has helped cultivate, he can get Kuminga together and have the whole world claiming “he did it again.”
Be the first to comment