Warriors GM Admits He's Too 'Busy' to Watch Kuminga Thrive with Hawks

Mike Dunleavy Jr. says he hasn't been able to keep tabs on the former Warriors forward after his trade request and departure.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. admitted in a recent interview that he hasn't been able to watch former Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, who was traded to the Atlanta Hawks at the deadline, as Kuminga has been thriving with his new team. Dunleavy said the Warriors felt it was the right move to accommodate Kuminga's trade request, as they want players who want to be in Golden State.

Why it matters

Kuminga was a highly touted prospect for the Warriors, but his role was reduced this season after a reported argument with head coach Steve Kerr. The trade has allowed Kuminga to flourish in Atlanta, while the Warriors are left to wonder if they should have done more to keep the young talent.

The details

After Kuminga's trade request, the Warriors decided to move on from the forward, who has since put up impressive performances for the Hawks. Dunleavy acknowledged Kuminga's talent, saying 'the talent is there' and that he 'could do really well' with his new team.

  • Kuminga was traded from the Warriors to the Hawks at the NBA trade deadline.
  • Kuminga has since had several strong games for the Hawks, including a 27-point performance against the Wizards and a 20-point, 7-rebound game against the Blazers.

The players

Mike Dunleavy Jr.

The general manager of the Golden State Warriors.

Jonathan Kuminga

A former first-round draft pick of the Warriors who was traded to the Atlanta Hawks at the NBA trade deadline.

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who reportedly had an argument with Kuminga that led to the forward's trade request.

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What they’re saying

“I haven't watched anything, yet. We've been really busy with stuff here in a myriad of different ways. I think with JK all along, I mean, the talent is there. This guy is a good basketball player when he plays the right way, when he does the right things. We wish him the best. I think he could do really well.”

— Mike Dunleavy Jr., Golden State Warriors GM (The San Francisco Standard)

“I think you guys know, it's been put out there about the trade demand [by Kuminga before the deadline], and I think any time a player wants that, I want to try to accommodate. You want people who want to be here. And for that reason, we felt it was the right time to move on.”

— Mike Dunleavy Jr., Golden State Warriors GM (The San Francisco Standard)

What’s next

The Warriors will face the Rockets on the road on Thursday.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges the Warriors face in balancing the development of young talent like Kuminga with the needs of their veteran-led championship team. The trade request and subsequent departure of Kuminga raises questions about whether the Warriors could have done more to keep the promising forward in Golden State.