Warriors Trade Kuminga to Hawks After Explosive Meeting with Kerr

Heated confrontation between coach and player led to young forward's midseason departure from Golden State

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks at the NBA trade deadline, finalizing a drawn-out and contentious relationship between the young forward and head coach Steve Kerr. A new report details an explosive midseason meeting between the two, where frustrations boiled over and Kerr slammed his whiteboard in anger. The meeting was the culmination of a season-long conflict, as Kuminga fell out of Kerr's rotation and sought a trade to a team that would feature him more prominently.

Why it matters

The trade of Kuminga, once seen as a core part of the Warriors' future, marks the end of a rocky tenure in Golden State. The confrontation between Kerr and Kuminga highlights the challenges of developing young talent on a championship-contending team, as well as the potential for conflict when a player's individual goals don't align with the team's priorities.

The details

According to the report, the final confrontation between Kerr and Kuminga occurred on December 10, when Kerr called a meeting to address Kuminga's absence from a team event and an issue involving a member of Kuminga's team taking too much food from the Warriors' family room. Kerr voiced his displeasure with Kuminga's 'lack of buy-in and competitiveness toward the team goals,' while Kuminga expressed his 'hurt about Kerr's longtime lack of belief in him as a player.' The meeting ended with Kerr slamming his whiteboard in frustration.

  • Kuminga fell out of Kerr's rotation last season as the Warriors attempted to make a deep playoff run.
  • Kuminga signed a two-year deal with the Warriors over the offseason, with plans to hit unrestricted free agency next year.
  • The confrontation between Kerr and Kuminga occurred on December 10, 2025.
  • Kuminga played only two games for the Warriors in 2026 before being traded to the Hawks on February 5.

The players

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors, known for his championship pedigree and player development.

Jonathan Kuminga

A former lottery pick of the Warriors, who was once seen as a core part of the franchise's future but fell out of Kerr's rotation and was ultimately traded to the Hawks.

Kristaps Porziņģis

The player the Warriors acquired from the Hawks in exchange for Kuminga and Buddy Hield.

Jimmy Butler

The veteran forward the Warriors acquired during the previous season, as they attempted to make a deep playoff run.

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What they’re saying

“I think it was a tough situation for everybody, given how raw he was when he got here and given we were still playing for championships. For him, it was very tough not being able to make those mistakes. For us as a staff, I think it was tricky trying to develop him while we were trying to win. I think it's as simple as that.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors (SI.com)

What’s next

The Warriors will look to integrate Porziņģis into their lineup as they continue their pursuit of another championship, while Kuminga will have the opportunity to play a more prominent role with the Hawks.

The takeaway

The trade of Kuminga highlights the challenges of developing young talent on a championship-contending team, as well as the potential for conflict when a player's individual goals don't align with the team's priorities. The explosive meeting between Kerr and Kuminga serves as a cautionary tale for NBA teams navigating the delicate balance between winning now and building for the future.