SAN FRANCISCO – After sinking a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter against Indiana on Monday night, Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga single-handedly kept the Warriors’ next offensive possession alive by grabbing two offensive rebounds and before a tip by two Pacers missed at the rim being fouled.

Teammate Stephen Curry immediately praised the additional performance. This is Kuminga, the Warriors and coach Steve Kerr say they need to break out of their slump and fight. After Kerr’s harshest criticism of Kuminga’s decision-making and shot selection of late, the Warriors’ top prospect responded with one of his best and most aggressive games of the season.

Kuminga made 9 of 16 shots and scored a game-high 26 points with 8 rebounds and 4 assists. While it wasn’t enough to save Golden State from a 111-105 loss at Chase Center, Kuminga played like a force on the edge and the kind of secondary scorer Curry and the Warriors need.

“This is the JK we want,” Kerr said after Golden State lost for the 10th time in 13 games. “Spent a lot of time in the zone, taking care of the ball. Had some really nice passes. I found Buddy (Hield) for 3 on a nice play and really attacked. So this is a great example of how JK needs to play.” . I’m really proud of him for coming out like this… He’s getting better and better and it’s fun to watch his development.

After the Warriors’ 113-103 win at Minnesota on Saturday, Kerr ended his postgame press conference by emphasizing that the coaching staff tried to make it clear to the young players that the Warriors “don’t need competitive 17-footers with 12 players.” “. the shot clock,” and that young players at Curry need to move the ball to get a better shot.

Just over two weeks ago, Kerr said Kuminga would be his starting power forward because it was time to maximize the fourth-year forward’s potential. Draymond Green also said he is ready to come off the bench because the franchise needs to see what Kuminga can do as someone it sees as a future star.

But after starting six games, Kuminga returned to the substitutes’ bench in the last three games. Kerr said he realized after the 143-133 loss to Dallas on Dec. 15 that his team needed to strive for better defense from the start, and that would mean starting Green at power forward with Kevon Looney at center .

Kuminga shot just 5 of 23 from the field overall and scored a total of 22 points coming off the bench in the last two games at Memphis and Minnesota.

Before Monday’s game, Kerr was asked about his comments and whether they were directed at Kuminga. While he said he spoke with Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski about shot selection and decision making, he also said he is trying to coach Kuminga to make better decisions.

“He’s elite at the rim, he’s elite when he gets fouled, so we want him to attack the rim,” Kerr said before the game. “There’s a time and a place for every shot, and so if it’s in the middle of the shot clock, it’s not a great shot. If it’s the end of the shot clock and we’ve been trying to get a better shot and nothing’s there, then he’s one of the few guys who is able to create an open look for himself.

“We work with our guys, we work with JK. I think he has so much potential and he’s shown a lot since he’s been here. He’s gotten a lot better, but I have to keep training him. The last one.” Two games, his field goal attempts, his decision making were poor and that needs to be improved.

Kuminga, the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft, says he is mentally stronger in his fourth season and is equipped to move in and out of the starting lineup.

“Sometimes I start, sometimes I don’t start,” Kuminga said. “Doesn’t really affect me. At this point in my career, I can’t put my head down and go out and play hard or try to be effective. I just go out and do my job because I can’t even worry about things like that. The more you worry about these things, the more you fail.”

“I’m used to it,” Kuminga added, starting and not starting. “Where I come from, you always have to be mentally strong. A lot of people who play…if they were in my shoes, they would quit basketball. You will need a therapist. You’ll get through it.” Many mental situations don’t affect me. As long as I go out here every day and just be with my teammates, they encourage me every day to be who I am.

The Warriors are desperately trying to regain the groove that helped them open the season 12-3. They have lost 10 of their last 13 games heading into a Christmas Day showdown with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Golden State would like to have Kuminga play like he did on Monday.

“I mean, he was probably the best player out there as far as offense and decision-making,” said Curry, who missed 11 of 13 shots and finished with 10 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. “Any time you are decisive and aggressive, you live with mistakes. But by playing in the flow of the offense and using what the defense was giving you, you saw him go up in the air, get a couple of extra possessions for us, he killed his own.” Open 3s, went downhill, put pressure on the rim and did things that really only he can do on our team.

“We love the energetic, confident JK. He can change the game for us like he has, and the combination of some of these plays will hopefully raise our level of play and give us a chance to win on any given night.”