SAN FRANCISCO – Jonathan Kuminga’s contract impasse with the Warriors technically started in late June, when the forward entered free agency after Golden State tendered him a $7.9 million, one-year qualifying offer.
Since then, Kuminga’s search for a long-term contract in a frigid market has seen him linked to teams as close as Sacramento to as distant as Miami.
In recent weeks, multiple outlets have reported that Kuminga has turned down short-term contracts with the Warriors, while both parties have searched for possible sign-and-trade options that fit the Warriors’ crunched salary cap.
Golden State has been linked to unrestricted free agents De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford, but remains the only team in the NBA without a single veteran signing or trade since the beginning of free agency.
As the Oct. 1 deadline for Kuminga to accept the tender and play on a one-year deal approaches, a return becomes more and more likely.
But while Kuminga has been a restricted free agent for a little over a month, the situation has been developing for multiple seasons, since the Warriors selected Kuminga No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft out of the G League Ignite.
Here is a four-year timeline of how Kuminga and the Warriors got here.
July 29, 2021: Warriors select Jonathan Kuminga with the No. 7 overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Aug. 3, 2021: Kuminga signs a four-year, $24,855,347 rookie contract.
June 16, 2022: Kuminga averages 9.3 points per game and starts 12 of 70 games in his rookie season, but averages just 5.2 points and 8.6 minutes per game during the championship run. He did not play in six of 22 playoff games, and did not score in the Finals.
Dec. 25, 2023: Kuminga, now in his third season with the team, expresses continued confusion in an interview with The Athletic over his role on a veteran-heavy team.
Oct. 21, 2024: The sides cannot agree on a contract extension at the deadline, with multiple outlets reporting the Warriors offered a five-year, $150 million deal.
Dec. 7, 2024: Draymond Green offers to come off the bench, allowing Kuminga to start. In 15 total games from the start of December until Jan. 4, Kuminga starts six games and averages 20.4 points per game overall.
Jan. 4, 2025: Kuminga severely injures his right ankle against the Grizzlies and misses the next 31 games.
Mar. 13, 2025: Kuminga returns, but does not start again during the regular season as the team shows improvement after the Feb. 5 trade for Jimmy Butler.
April 13, 2025: Kuminga is a healthy scratch against the Clippers in a high-leverage season finale, the play-in showdown with Memphis and then does not play against the Rockets in Game 1. Kuminga participated in the next two games as Butler dealt with an injury, but was inactive in three of the final four first-round games after Butler’s return.
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May 6, 2025: Kuminga is thrust into a featured scoring role after Steph Curry was injured in Game 1. He scored 18, 30, 23 and 26 in the final four games against the Timberwolves, all losses.
June 25, 2025: Kuminga makes it clear that he wants to be a featured player on whatever team he plays on, in an interview with The Athletic.
June 28, 2025: Warriors tender Kuminga the $7.9 million qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. He has until Oct. 1 to accept the deal.
July 3, 2025: The Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets are reported to have interest in Kuminga.
July 24, 2025: Jonathan Kuminga tells ESPN’s Shams Charania that he is “in no rush” to sign a contract.
July 30, 2025: The Warriors offer Kuminga a two-year, $45 million contract with a team option, per NBA reporter Marc Stein.
Aug. 1, 2025: The Athletic reports the Kings offered a three-year, $63 million contract in a sign-and-trade that would send Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round pick to the Warriors. Golden State has reportedly closed off negotiations with other teams about trading Kuminga.