The Golden State Warriors were eliminated from this year's playoffs in five games by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals. The series loss can largely be chalked up to the absence of Steph Curry,

Kerr later compared Kuminga to former four-time All-Star Shawn Marion and Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon. He suggested that he wants the young forward to play like the former, while claiming that it took the latter some time to find his role in the league.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr faced some criticism for his usage of rising young forward Jonathan Kuminga, but he defended his strategy.