Draymond Green Talks Warriors Bench Role, Says Jonathan Kuminga 'Earned' Opportunity

Golden State Warriors veteran forward Draymond Green suggested Friday that he had no issue moving to the bench in order to make way for Jonathan Kuminga in the starting lineup.

Speaking to reporters after the Warriors' 107-90 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Green praised Kuminga and made it clear he was fine with coming off the bench for as long as head coach Steve Kerr wants him to:

"Of course, I'm OK with it. I have been one of JK's biggest fans since he's been here. And so if he has an opportunity to start, you can't be hypocritical, and [if] they're like we want him to start, but it'll be [up to] you, you can't be like, ah, it's not for me, that don't work. I want to see him do well.

"So if his opportunity goes through me, then it is what it is. He earned the opportunity. He played extremely well [Thursday]. You want to give that another look or two or three or four or however long. If it works, then you continue with it."

Green went on to stress that he didn't feel disrespected by the move and understood it in terms of giving Kuminga to prove himself as a future face of the franchise:

"I don't necessarily look at it as like this demotion. I'm a starter in the NBA. I know that. But if it's something to try to help this team win, I'm always going to be for it. I hate losing.

"I care about this organization, and I know a lot of people in this organization, including myself, think he's next. And so if he's next, at some point we got to see it."

Making only his seventh start of the season, Kuminga largely struggled on Friday, scoring 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting to go along with two rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block and three turnovers.

Green was effective off the bench with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, plus nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block.

Friday marked the first time Green came off the bench this season, and only the sixth time he has done so over the past 11 seasons.

The 34-year-old Green has been a huge part of Golden State's success over the years, earning four All-Star selections and one NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in addition to playing on four NBA championship teams.

Golden State won its fourth championship in eight years in 2022, but it hasn't been a true contender since then.

The Warriors went 44-38 in 2023 and were ousted in the second round of the playoffs, and missed the playoffs with a 46-36 mark last season.

Klay Thompson signed with the Dallas Mavericks during the offseason, leaving Green and Stephen Curry as the last players remaining who were on all four of the Warriors' championship teams.

It is fair to wonder if the Warriors' championship window has closed, but for as long as they have Curry and Green, they will likely try to win.

At 13-9, the Dubs are a solid fifth in the Western Conference this season, however, they don't have the looks of a championship threat at the moment.

The best way for the Warriors to get into contention may be to expand the roles of some of their younger players, such as Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Kuminga, who was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, had a career year last season, averaging 16.1 points on 52.9 percent shooting, as well as 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

He has taken a step back this season, averaging 14.8 points on 44.8 percent shooting, along with 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists.