Warriors Get Bad and Good News on Kuminga, Curry
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga will miss his fifth consecutive game due to bilateral knee tendinitis when the team returns to Chase Center to face the Portland Trail Blazers
The 23-year-old forward has been battling discomfort for nearly two weeks and the team has chosen a cautious approach despite the Warriors’ up-and-down start.
Stephen Curry Cleared; Butler, Green and Hield Listed as Probable
Golden State received a boost on Thursday as Stephen Curry was cleared to return from his ankle injury after missing the final two games of the Warriors’ six-game road trip. The team also listed starters
They all missed Wednesday’s 110–96 loss to the Miami Heat, where Golden State played without Curry, Butler, Green, Kuminga and center
Kuminga Feels Like the ‘Scapegoat’ in Warriors’ Struggles
GettyJimmy Butler had a lot to say on the pressure, uncertain future, and trade rumors Jonathan Kuminga is facing with the Golden State Warriors.
Despite his promising start, Kuminga is reportedly frustrated with how he has been treated during the team’s early struggles. A team source told ESPN’s Anthony Slater that Kuminga “feels like the scapegoat again” after being demoted to the bench when the Warriors’ rotations became unstable following a 4–1 start.
“Kuminga’s turnovers spiked and performance dipped. Searching for rotation answers, Kerr demoted Kuminga back to a bench role, reopening old wounds,” Slater wrote.
Kuminga averaged 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists through nine games while his turnovers climbed from 2.4 per game to 3.1 per game during his final seven appearances before the injury.
Warriors Won Without Him, But Butler Says Winning Isn’t About Kuminga
Golden State won three straight immediately after Kuminga went down — a trend that might have intensified speculation. However, Butler pushed back on the idea that the Warriors improved simply because Kuminga wasn’t playing.
“Him not being in the lineup ain’t the reason that we’re winning,” Butler said. “We’re just playing better basketball. Roles are clearer. We’re making shots. We’re guarding. That ain’t got nothing to do with him.”
Kuminga Felt Like a ‘Human Trade Exception’ This Summer
Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million extension in October, but Slater reported that the former lottery pick believed he was being treated like a “human trade exception,” with his future not fully secure even after signing the deal.
Internally, there is acknowledgment that Kuminga’s contract does not guarantee long-term status in Golden State’s core.
Kuminga Expected to Come Off the Bench Upon Return
Head coach Steve Kerr has settled into a new starting lineup featuring
Butler Mentoring Kuminga: ‘You Asked for This’
Butler has taken an active mentoring role with Kuminga after the forward’s tense contract discussions.
“He listens to me,” Butler told ESPN. “When JK doing some [expletive], I’m going to tell him we can’t have that.”
According to Butler, Kuminga must embrace pressure instead of blaming others.
“Draymond nailed it,” Butler said. “He said, ‘Hey, you asked for this.’… You can’t let this [expletive] affect how you play.”
Isaiah Hodgins’ Return Comes At Perfect Time For Giants
Isaiah Hodgins made a name for himself after being picked by the New York Giants on waivers during the 2022 season. After being let go by the Buffalo Bills, his familiarity with Brian Daboll’s offense allowed him to hit the ground running and immediately contribute.
In 2025, the same story is in the process of repeating itself, with Hodgins leading the team in receiving during his first game back in New York against the Green Bay Packers. Hodgins is back at just the right time for the Giants, whose receiving room seems to get thinner by the week.
Hodgins Brings Stability To Giants’ Offense
Against the Packers, Isaiah Hodgins caught five passes for 57 yards. None of them were flashy, downfield grabs where Hodgins burned past the Green Bay secondary. But truth be told, New York does not need that right now. What they need is stability in a time of change.
Brian Daboll was fired last week, with Mike Kafka taking over as interim head coach. Tim Kelly moved into Kafka’s position as offensive coordinator. Jaxson Dart has been recovering from a concussion, which saw Jameis Winston make his first start of the season at quarterback.
When Jaxson Dart returns, which could be as soon as Sunday, he is going to want a security blanket to throw to. Hodgins fulfills that role perfectly for the Giants. He knows how to find the open spots in zone coverage, get open when the play breaks down, and complete catches to move the chains on a crucial third down.
Just as he did in 2022, Hodgins already knew the Giants’ system. He knew where to go and what to do and where Winston needed him to be. It makes Giants fans wonder why this move was not made sooner, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Giants’ Thin Receiver Room Picked Up Reliable Addition
In addition to the schematic fit that Hodgins provides the Giants, New York needed him as a personnel fit, with the wide receiver room seemingly growing thinner by the week.
Malik Nabers has been on injured reserve since tearing his ACL against the Chargers, but Darius Slayton has been dealing with a hamstring injury that has held him out of games multiple times this season. Jalin Hyatt is extremely unreliable, often dropping passes, and last week, he stopped short on a route that resulted in an interception in the end zone.
Depth receivers, including Beaux Collins, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, and Da’Quan Felton, are on injured reserve, while Gunner Olzewski, who has taken Slayton’s spot, has primarily been a kick and punt returner for Big Blue. Wan’Dale Robinson has been reliable in the slot, but has been forced to take on outside receiving duties this season due to injuries to Nabers and Slayton.
Insert Isaiah Hodgins, and suddenly the Giants have a serviceable duo at the position. Tyrone Tracy Jr. was second on the team with 51 receiving yards last week, while Theo Johnson and Wan’Dale Robinson each had 36 yards through the air. Meanwhile, Lil’Jordan Humphrey was picked up by Denver after the Giants hesitated to promote him to the active roster.
Hodgins appeared in eight games in 2022, catching 33 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns to help the Giants get back to the postseason for the first time since 2016. He earned a place in Giants lore by catching 9 of 11 targets for 108 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings in the Wild Card round to give New York its first postseason victory since the 2011 Super Bowl season.
Although the playoffs are all but out of the question for this year’s Giants, having Hodgins back on the team could provide the stability the receiving room needs. New York would be wise to hold onto him this time, as Hodgins appears to be the perfect fit for the Giants’ offense once again.
