Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga Set to Return After 31-Game Absence

San Francisco, CA – Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is expected to return to the court on Thursday against the Sacramento Kings, marking his first appearance since injuring his right ankle on January 4. Kuminga has been sidelined for 31 games, but sources disclosed to ESPN that he has been participating in scrimmages over the past few weeks.

Before his injury, Kuminga was having an impressive season, averaging 20.5 points across his last 14 games. He recorded 20 or more points in four of the six games preceding his injury, including two games where he scored 34 points.

Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr confirmed that Kuminga will come off the bench upon his return, as he has established a winning starting lineup since acquiring star player Jimmy Butler in early February. The Warriors have gone 12-1 with Butler in the lineup, winning five consecutive games leading up to Thursday’s matchup.

“It’s a really difficult thing when you are playing really well and have a key guy coming back,” Kerr explained during a press conference on Saturday. “I think the idea is just to bring him along slowly, play him in short bursts, and help him get his rhythm back. We got to keep playing the guys who are helping us win now.”

With Kuminga set to become a restricted free agent this summer, his teammate Draymond Green advised him to focus on his strengths rather than trying to rush back into form. “You can’t and you’re not going to get it all back in one day,” Green stated. “He has to give himself some grace as he works his way back. We are preparing to go on a nice run. He will have plenty of time to prove exactly who we already know he is.”

The Warriors’ cautious approach reflects their commitment to building a strong lineup while easing Kuminga back into a competitive rhythm. As anticipation builds for his return, both fans and teammates are looking forward to seeing the explosive forward back on the court.