Dub Hub: Steve Kerr says Jonathan Kuminga must ‘adapt’ to the team in his return

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Wednesday, March 12th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steve Kerr explains why Jonathan Kuminga must “adapt” to the Warriors in his potential return on Thursday.
• Steph Curry becomes an investor of Unrivaled 3-on-3 Women’s Basketball League.
• Cavaliers win their 15th straight game after beating the Nets, 109-104.

The Golden State Warriors are rolling, winning nine of their last ten games, including their last five in a row. Now, they’re set to get another boost with the return of fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga, who is expected to play Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings after missing over two months with an ankle sprain.

Before his injury, Kuminga was averaging 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 45.9% from the field, emerging as a key contributor for Golden State. But with six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler now in the mix, head coach Steve Kerr made it clear that Kuminga will need to adapt to the team’s new dynamic.

The Warriors are 12-1 with Butler in the lineup, and his presence as a reliable secondary option alongside Stephen Curry has reshaped the team’s identity. While Kuminga’s athleticism and ability to attack the basket will be valuable, Kerr emphasized the importance of easing him back into the rotation as he finds his role within this new-look squad.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, March 12th:

Warriors News:

Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga expected to return Thursday night against Kings: Sources | The Athletic

Kuminga still must check the necessary medical boxes, including a team practice Wednesday, before Rick Celebrini and the organization’s medical staff officially clear him for Thursday’s game. The current plan is for Kuminga to be out there against the Kings as long as the recovered ankle continues responding well in the next 48 hours. He’s expected to be eased into action off the bench on a careful minutes restriction.

Will Jonathan Kuminga fit with Jimmy Butler on new-look Warriors? | Draymond Green & Baron Davis

Steph joins Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league as investor | NBC Sports Bay Area

“I am incredibly proud to join the Unrivaled family as the league continues to set a new standard for how women’s professional sports should operate — empowering athletes and ensuring they have a real stake in their own success,” Curry said in a statement. “Unrivaled is not just innovating the way we play basketball, but also how we value and invest in the athletes who drive the game forward.”

Curry joins a long list of current and former athletes and coaches who have invested in the league, including Carmelo Anthony, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alex Morgan, Coco Gauff, Michael Phelps, Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma.

Butler claims joining Steph, Draymond on Dubs everything he dreamt of | NBC Sports Bay Area

“I think it’s everything that I’ve expected,” Butler said of joining this Warriors team. “Anything that I can actually dream of, too, if we’re being brutally honest. I just want to win. There ain’t no individual goals here, they don’t care who scores, they don’t care who gets triple-doubles, they don’t care about none of that. All they want to do is win a championship.”

The Athletic’s Anthony Slater explains Steph Curry’s role as Davidson’s new assistant general manager

NBA News:

Cavaliers match team’s longest streak with 15th straight win | ESPN

“To win 15 straight games at this juncture, there is fatigue, so it’s really quite an accomplishment,” Atkinson said. “After doing it our first 15 games, it’s remarkable. We want bigger things, but we’ll look back on this and say it’s a pretty big accomplishment.”

Next on the Cavaliers’ checklist is locking up the No. 1 seed in the East. They are eight games in front of the second-place Celtics with 17 remaining and hold a two-game advantage over the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder for the best record in the NBA.

Cleveland’s home-court advantage has been overwhelming at Rocket Arena, where it also has the top mark in the league at 30-4.

Bucks owner, NBA veteran Junior Bridgeman passes away at age 71 | NBA

Junior Bridgeman, a basketball standout who led Louisville to a Final Four, played 12 seasons in the NBA and then launched an even more successful career as a businessman with stakes in publishing, restaurants and the Milwaukee Bucks, died Tuesday. He was 71.

Bridgeman was a fixture in Louisville after his playing days, and Mayor Craig Greenberg announced his death, saying the city had “lost a kind, generous and groundbreaking legend.”

“He was an All-American at U of L, an NBA All-Star and a self-made billionaire,” Greenberg said in a statement. “Yet I will most remember Junior Bridgeman for his quiet, impactful assistance to others in need” as well as his love for his family and his “never-ending support for our community.”

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton completes four-point play to beat the Bucks

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

The special ways through which Moses Moody and Quinten Post have become valuable specialists

Drop coverage has somewhat of a notorious reputation in the modern NBA, due to the proliferation of pull-up shooting that can punish bigs dropping back in ball-screen actions. Given certain conditions — a proficient drop defender and an on-ball defender who can navigate screens, for example — drop coverage can be a useful tool to keep possessions two vs. two and prevent a defense from being put in rotation.

Against the Blazers, Post flashed his discipline and fundamentals as a drop defender. Him being able to contain and corral ball handlers while also keeping tabs on the roll man — i.e., playing the middle ground effectively — stood out.

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