With the Golden State Warriors missing nearly half of their roster, the franchise’s future will now be thrust into the present. All eyes are on two young cornerstones — Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski — as head coach Steve Kerr challenged both players publicly ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
For a team long defined by the championship pedigree of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the Warriors suddenly find themselves relying on inexperience, development, and accountability. And Kerr made clear exactly what he expects.
Steve Kerr Calls Out Jonathan Kuminga: ‘Run the Floor, Take Care of the Ball’
GettyGolden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga chats with Steve Kerr.
When asked what he needed from Kuminga, Kerr didn’t sugarcoat his feedback.
“With JK, always run the floor. Take care of the ball. Turnovers have been an issue lately,” Kerr said.
Kuminga has committed five turnovers across Golden State’s last two games, and his offensive rhythm has stalled during a cold stretch, hitting just 31.8% from the field.
Kerr wants a change in mindset — not just statistics.
“I’m really urging him to get on the floor instead of holding back… I want him to be the first guy down the floor, not the last,” the four-time champion coach said.
The message: Golden State’s fast-break identity requires athleticism and urgency, and Kerr needs Kuminga to spearhead that charge — not trail behind it.
Kerr Sends Podziemski a Different Message: Simplify and Trust the Offense
If Kuminga’s issue is pace, Podziemski’s, according to Kerr, is trying to do too much.
The former first-round pick has seen his closing-minutes role seized by Pat Spencer — a two-way contract player who has outperformed and out-executed in recent nights.
“He’s got to get off the ball early,” Kerr said of Podziemski. “When he gets into trouble is when he tries too hard to make plays on his own instead of what he does best, which is to move the ball and be part of a five-man group that is really executing.”
Podziemski’s box score Thursday reflected the struggle: 20 minutes, six points on 2-of-8 shooting, zero assists and three turnovers in Golden State’s 99–98 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
“That is why Pat [Spencer] has been closing the last couple of games and has played most of the fourth quarter, if not all, because he’s doing that,” Kerr said. “Brandin needs to get back to just focusing on things that he does best.”
Meanwhile, Spencer delivered 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, four rebounds and four assists during the Warriors’ late comeback surge. Two nights earlier vs. Oklahoma City, Spencer posted 17 points and six assists.
Warriors’ Injury Crisis Forces Unlikely Depth Chart Shake-Up
The Warriors will again be without Curry (quadriceps), Jimmy Butler (knee), Green (midfoot), Seth Curry (toe) and Al Horford (sciatica) while De’Anthony Melton, who just made his season debut, gets the rest on the first night of a back-to-back set.
Melton is expected to play against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.
The result: rotations are thinner, responsibilities heavier, and the margin for error almost nonexistent.
Podziemski’s Ambition Under Spotlight After Public Quotes Resurface
GettyBrandin Podziemski and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrate a basket.
In November, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported that Podziemski “raised eyebrows” within the organization after publicly discussing his long-term ambitions — including one remark about surpassing Curry himself.
Podziemski said he “wants to be better than him,” a response that “elicited some eyerolls” internally, per Slater’s report.
He doubled down weeks later in The Athletic, expressing a desire to one day become Golden State’s next franchise centerpiece.
“When they leave this thing, they’ve got to leave it with somebody… How can I have their trust?”
Now, the player who wants to inherit the dynasty is playing behind a two-way contract guard.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Kerr Calls Out Warriors Young Duo as Two-Way Player Takes Their Minutes appeared first on Heavy Sports.