Steve Kerr Says Jonathan Kuminga 'Turning the Corner' for Warriors After Win vs. Suns

The Golden State Warriors will eventually need another star to take over for the 36-year-old Stephen Curry down the line, and the version of Jonathan Kuminga on display the last two games could be the answer.

"I just think he's turning the corner," head coach Steve Kerr told reporters after Saturday's win over the Phoenix Suns. "He's seeing the picture well."

Kerr highlighted plays Kuminga made beyond the box score and said the 22-year-old's recent play "is exactly what we're looking for, and it's fun to see him deliver."

It has been something of an up-and-down season for the forward, who has switched from a bench role to a starting role and back again at times. He also turned heads with a cryptic Instagram post with the caption "✌️✌️✌️" and told ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk that some people might "quit basketball" or "need a therapist" if "they were in my shoes."

Yet Kuminga showed his full potential the last two contests with 34 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block in Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers and 34 points, nine rebounds, three assists and one steal in Saturday's win over the Suns.

He was the leading scorer in a game that featured Curry, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Draymond Green and provided 34 of Golden State's 37 total bench points.

Some of Kuminga's overall inconsistency mirrors that of the Warriors, as the team started 12-3 and appeared to be on its way to contending in the Western Conference. Yet it then went 3-12 in its next 15 games before Saturday's win.

The end result is a Golden State club sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference standings that is stuck somewhat in the middle of contending with Curry or focusing on the future.

However, Kuminga elevating his game helps the immediate and long-term prospects of the organization and would drastically change the ceiling on this season's team. Not having to rely on Curry to do all the heavy lifting on a nightly basis would be critical, as would having a secondary go-to scorer in important situations.

Kerr surely knows that and shouted out the young playmaker after Saturday's performance.