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Golden State won its seventh NBA title on the night of June 16 to 17, 2022. Congolese Jonathan Kuminga did not play the final game of the finals won against the Boston Celtics. But the 19-year-old winger has contributed to the Warriors’ great season in the North American basketball league.
It was almost as a privileged spectator that Jonathan Kuminga, 19, attended the finals of the North American Basketball Championship (NBA) between his team, the Golden State Warriors, and the legendary Boston Celtics franchise. Indeed, the winger who measures 2 meters 01 played only ends of match during the series won 4-2 by the Californians. In fact, as the outcome of the final phase (play-offs) approached, the role of the Congolese diminished, after some nevertheless valuable performances against the Denver Nuggets in the first round, the Memphis Grizzlies in the second and the Mavericks of Dallas at third.
Youngest starter in play-off history
And if he had a few slumps during these play-offs, especially on the rebound, the one who wears the 00 jersey could legitimately let his joy burst, on the night of June 16 to 17, 2022 in Boston. Here he is in his first season in the NBA, crowned champion (he is the seventh player born in Africa to achieve this [1]). Basketball legends have never won this title.
The future thus seems bright for the native of Goma. Steve Kerr, Warriors coach and former teammate of Michael Jordan with the Bulls, shows his confidence in his beginner (“rookie”). So much so that he made him the youngest holder in NBA play-off history on May 7. The experiment was certainly not completely successful. But Jonathan Kuminga had already largely shown his abilities during the regular season, with 9.3 points scored and 3.3 rebounds captured, on average, per game.
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“He can become a regular All-Star”
In the Bay of San Francisco, the rookie is in any case incubated by his more experienced teammates, like the scabby Draymond Green. ” It will be very goodhad assured the 32-year-old interior. He can become an All-Star [joueur qui dispute le match de gala annuel entre les meilleurs éléments NBA, Ndlr] regular in this league. It depends on him and the work he provides. But he has the qualities, the tools, he sees the game well… If he works, he has the possibility of being a regular All-Star ».
Athletic and aggressive both in attack and defense, Jonathan Kuminga has what it takes to settle in the best league in the world. In March 2021, he explained to RFI: “ I want to have a long career in the league and I want to make the Congolese people proud. If I manage to do it, it will also show my compatriots that anything is possible, and that would be my greatest pride. »
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[1] Other players born in Africa and crowned NBA champions: Belgian Didier Mbenga, Cameroonian Pascal Siakam, Guinean Mamadi Diakité, Spaniard Serge Ibaka and Nigerians Festus Ezeli and Hakeem Olajuwon.
