It remains to be seen what Jonathan Kuminga’s playoff role will look like for the Warriors, but Bill Simmons believes NBA history could repeat itself when it comes to the teenage talent.
As a rookie on the 1996-97 Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant was thrust into playoff action at just 18 years old. Up until then, he had averaged just over 15 minutes per game that season but assumed a lead role because of injuries and other circumstances.
However, Bryant didn't come through in the clutch that series, as he famously air-balled the Lakers out of the Western Conference semifinals -- a turning point which helped shape the late NBA legend’s “Mamba Mentality.”
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While Kuminga still has quite a long way to go before he can be compared to Bryant, Simmons told Jay Caspian Kang on Friday’s episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast” that he could see a similar scenario playing out for the 19-year-old once Golden State begins its playoff run.
“Just hear me out. Don’t panic when I say this, because I’m not comparing him to Kobe," Simmons said. "They’re not even the same guy, but Kobe his first year, remember when the Lakers were just like, ‘F--k it,’ and they threw him out in the playoffs and he was playing in that Utah [Jazz] series and was all of a sudden really involved? And it kind of made sense, but it backfired on them? But [the Lakers] were just like, ‘This guy’s special. Let’s just get him the miles.
“I think [the Warriors] are going to do that with Kuminga in the playoffs.”
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There’s no doubt that Kuminga is special. Aside from his viral highlights, the forward is coming into his own this season and has grown into a regular rotation player. Across February and March, Kuminga averaged 13.5 points and 4.6 rebounds. He has also seen an increase in playing time as he becomes more comfortable in the league, going from an average of 7.4 minutes per game in November to 22.8 minutes in March.
Despite his progress, Warriors general manager Bob Myers recently said Kuminga’s postseason role is “to be determined” because of his youth and playoff inexperience, and his playing time will be decided on a series-dependent basis.
Should Steph Curry return from his foot injury in time for playoffs, Golden State will have a wealth of experience on the court between its star point guard, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green as it looks for its fourth NBA championship in eight years.
Still, Simmons foresees a playoff scenario where Kuminga gets a chance -- and then some.
“I think [the Warriors] are going to just be like, ‘Let’s play this guy … He’s going to cost us in some ways, but the energy and excitement of these games, he’s such a great athlete. Maybe this is like our X-factor,’” Simmons said. “I can see them doing it.”
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Simmons’ comparison of Kuminga to Bryant isn’t the first time the rookie has been mentioned in the same sentence as an NBA superstar. Simmons reminded Kang of Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s January comments, which likened Kuminga to Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
“... [Kerr] was really careful about it, but it was also kind of intentional. He was just like, ‘Look, this guy’s really special. We have to start playing him,’ and it’s like the same way the Bucks had to start playing Giannis,” Kang said.
Kuminga certainly has the physical gifts necessary to follow in the footsteps of athletes like Bryant and Antetokounmpo, and perhaps the postseason could be his big, breakout moment. Even if it doesn’t go as planned, Bryant proved that the comeback is greater than the setback -- especially when you’re a rookie.
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