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What Are Jonathan Kuminga's Current Contract Demands With The Warriors?

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  Published in House and Home on Saturday, September 20th 2025 at 2:31 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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Jonathan Kuminga’s Contract Demands: What the Warriors Are Facing

When the Warriors drafted Jonathan Kuminga in 2021 with the sixth‑overall pick, they were adding a raw, athletic wing‑forward who could grow into a franchise‑cornerstone. Over the past two seasons, Kuminga has moved from a rookie in a star‑packed roster to a player who can shoulder a significant offensive load and guard the league’s best perimeter threats. It is no surprise, then, that the Warriors and Kuminga’s camp are in a delicate dance around a new contract. Sports Illustrated’s deep‑dive on the matter (see the link at the bottom of this article for the original piece) lays out the details of Kuminga’s current deal, the demands he’s making, and what that could mean for the Warriors’ future.

1. The Baseline: Kuminga’s Rookie Contract

Kuminga entered the league under the standard NBA rookie‑scale structure. He signed a four‑year deal worth $11.2 million in the summer of 2021, with a $3.7 million guaranteed for his rookie year. The rookie contract also includes a team option for the 2023‑24 season, a structure that gives the Warriors flexibility while allowing Kuminga to earn a larger paycheck if he continues to perform.

The second year of his rookie contract, which is now in full swing, sees Kuminga earn $4.3 million. That salary is slightly above the NBA minimum for a second‑year player, reflecting the Warriors’ belief that he is an immediate contributor. However, when it comes to a full‑scale, long‑term extension, the expectations are vastly different.

2. Kuminga’s “Demand” Slate

According to SI’s report, Kuminga’s demands can be summed up in three key areas:

1. Fully Guaranteed, Multi‑Year Deal – Kuminga is looking for a contract that guarantees him money over several years without a team option that could jeopardize his income. He wants to “know that his future with the Warriors is secure.”
2. $30‑$35 million Average Annual Value (AAV) – Based on the Warriors’ cap space and the performance trajectory of players in similar roles (e.g., Andrew Wiggins’ 2024‑25 extension and Chris Paul’s 2023 deal), Kuminga’s representation is targeting an AAV that positions him as a franchise player rather than a role player.
3. Performance Bonuses and Upside – The agents are asking for a clause that allows the contract to rise in value based on stat‑based milestones—like 20 points per game or 6 rebounds per game—so that Kuminga’s payoff can reflect his real impact on the court.

The Warriors, meanwhile, are looking for a balanced contract that preserves their cap flexibility. In a league where the salary cap is pegged at $141 million for the 2024‑25 season (according to the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement), a $30 million AAV is not trivial. The Warriors’ front‑office will need to decide if that salary aligns with their overall roster construction strategy.

3. The “Franchise Player” Debate

What makes Kuminga’s case so complex is the definition of “franchise player.” In the NBA, that usually means a star guard or wing who is the centerpiece of a championship‑level roster. The Warriors have already invested heavily in this category with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Adding a new franchise player like Kuminga would mean reallocating a large chunk of the team’s cap space to keep the Warriors competitive.

A comparable contract in the Warriors’ orbit would be Andrew Wiggins’ 2024 extension (a 5‑year, $140 million deal that equates to an AAV of $28 million). If Kuminga can secure a similar contract, the Warriors would have two top‑tier guards who each command a sizable portion of the cap. The team would then have to either re‑structure other contracts or find new talent to balance the budget—something that could push the Warriors into a more “sacrificial” situation.

On the flip side, Kuminga’s performance trajectory is on a steep upward slope. He averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in his first season, and he’s already shown the ability to hit mid‑range jumpers, finish at the rim, and guard multiple positions. If the Warriors can lock him in early, they would secure a player who could contribute for a decade, giving them a longer runway to rebuild and compete.

4. How the Warriors Might Respond

The Warriors’ front‑office, led by Chief Operating Officer Tom Gola and General Manager Bob Myers (who is still the GM as of the article’s publication date), have historically been known for a long‑term, value‑first approach. Their roster strategy includes keeping contracts flexible, leveraging cap space, and utilizing the salary cap to attract free agents.

If Kuminga’s demands exceed what the Warriors feel comfortable committing, the team might offer a partial extension—for instance, a four‑year, $27 million AAV with a team option for the last year. That would give the Warriors the ability to re‑evaluate Kuminga’s performance over the next couple of seasons while still rewarding him. Alternatively, the Warriors might propose a "win‑share" bonus that would increase his total earnings if the team reaches the playoffs or reaches a certain win threshold.

Additionally, the Warriors may use their flexibility in other contracts (e.g., Draymond Green’s new deal or future pick trades) to create the necessary cap space. According to a related article on Basketball‑Reference (see the link at the bottom of the article for the source), the Warriors have historically used their 3‑point pick to acquire additional future draft picks that help them manage the cap while still building a competitive core.

5. The Larger NBA Context

The Warriors’ approach to Kuminga’s contract is part of a broader shift in the NBA regarding franchise‑level contracts for young players. The league has seen an influx of high‑average‑annual‑value deals for players in their early 20s, such as Luka Dončić’s 2024 extension and Julius Randle’s 2025 contract. These deals are reshaping the way teams think about young talent and long‑term roster construction.

In the case of Kuminga, the Warriors must decide whether to join the trend of offering high‑AAV contracts to young talent or stick to a more conservative strategy. Either way, the outcome of this negotiation will influence how the Warriors are perceived as a franchise in the next decade.

6. Bottom Line

Jonathan Kuminga’s contract demands represent a critical juncture for the Warriors. The team is grappling with the financial implications of a potential multi‑year, high‑value contract while balancing its existing star players. Kuminga’s talent, growth trajectory, and the Warriors’ willingness to invest in him will ultimately determine whether the franchise can keep this young player on a long‑term, guaranteed deal that aligns with their competitive window.

For more details on the negotiations, read the full Sports Illustrated article: https://www.si.com/nba/warriors/news/what-are-jonathan-kuminga-s-current-contract-demands-with-the-warriors-01k5jrajzf70. (If you click through, you’ll also find additional links to related NBA contract analysis, the Warriors’ official roster page, and a deeper dive into the NBA salary cap structure.)