GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 27, 2021

Jonathan Kuminga

Media Conference

Q. Jonathan, hope you had a good summer. How has the transition been, being here full-time and what are your personal expectations that you have for yourself as we hit training camp?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I mean, it's been real good since I've been here. Just getting better every day. I see a lot of progression. Just getting along with everybody here. Pretty much my goal is just to get better every single day.

Q. Have you talked to Steve about what he envisions your role? I understand you want to get better every day but do you know at this point what they have -- what they are expecting from you?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: It's just pretty much coming out here, compete at a high level, play hard and just trust the process.

Q. How long have you been here working out, and have those workouts been like, maybe some of the veterans joining in? Have you picked up some things while you've been working out here?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: So basically since I left Vegas, I flew here. I took like a week off and then I started working out and I worked out a couple days. They just tell me, stay ready, whenever your moment comes, it's your time to shine. Just stay humble, play hard, work hard every single day and get better.

Q. In Las Vegas, couldn't help but noticing that your game was very get-to-the-rim and try to slam dunk everything. Can you do that in the NBA? Do you plan on that being your style of seeing if you can get to the rim every time you have the ball?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I mean, I know for sure as much work as I put in every single day, at some point I'm pretty capable to pretty much do that. I've lot more growth for me that I'm trying to expand my game to do different type of things on the floor, but it's going to come in time.

Q. Coach said that Iguodala has been talking to you and Moses and some of the young guys. From your end, who have you been working out with, which coaches, players, and who have you been sort of absorbing knowledge from?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I mean, I've been absorbing pretty much everybody, whoever comes in the gym the day I'm working out. After my workout, usually just sit down and watch what they are doing. I see their preparation. Iguodala, especially, is right next to my locker. So I've been asking him a couple questions, not just about basketball but pretty much about everything. I'm getting a lot of knowledge from him.

Q. Iguodala is 37; you're 18. How is that meshing going with the age disparity?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I mean, it feels a little weird (laughter) because it's somebody I used to watch on TV, and now him being next to my locker and talking to him every day as a friend, as a teammate, as an older brother, it's crazy. But I feel like I'm enjoying the moment that he's still around.

Q. Most rookies in Summer League are coming from college, so it might be different. You obviously played with the G League. Do you feel a little more prepared to play the NBA style of game than you played this summer?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I feel real prepared. My whole life I've been working hard every single day. I'm always prepared for anything. I feel like starting my first year in the league, I feel like I'm really well prepared to play.

Q. I see you comment on Klay Thompson's Instagram that you wanted to drive his car. Have you driven the car or maybe the boat with Klay Thompson?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: No, we actually spoke about it. He don't want me to touch his car (laughter).

But he for sure say he's going to let me on his boat a couple times. But his car, he say he going to have to think about it (laughter).

Q. Do you have your license?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: Yeah, I have my license.

Q. One of the hardest things for young guys coming into the league is obviously you have money now and sometimes when you have money, you have new friends, people that want to be close to you. How do you deal with the fact that now people that maybe before liked you, really, really like you now, and just the group of people around you, how do you protect yourself from being in that situation?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I feel like a couple people has really been there for me since day one. I stay keeping the same people around me. I really don't have that many people coming at me like that and trying to be super cool with me at all because if you wasn't really working with me a long time ago, I don't really bring those type of people around me that much.

Q. What have the scrimmages been like the last few weeks being around here?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: It's been great. Being in this area, it's like I'm home. I'm loving every single moment that I'm here.

Q. How have the games been? Have you gotten some games with the veterans?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: Yeah, I've gotten a bit. It's been fun, a lot of learning lessons, just watching them play with you or against you, it's been real good.

Q. Anything specific lesson-wise that you can remember learning the last couple weeks?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: Just know not to fear with all those really guys, that I really know how to play the game and just watching and learning from them and just knowing your role.

Q. Draft night when you heard you were going to the Warriors, when did it sink in that you were going to play with Steph and Draymond and Klay and playing for the Warriors? What's that process been like?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: So it's been real crazy, I'm not going to try to be funny but I used to use Steph in 2K. Because he don't miss in 2K at all. Whenever you use somebody in 2K and you get called that you're getting drafted on the same team as him, it's crazy because it's happened like I can't change it. I'm going to step on the same team with Klay and Draymond, and I really love to be drafted here. I feel like I wanted to get drafted here because it was going to help a lot on my game just grow a lot.

Q. Has James Wiseman offered any insight? He's fresh off a rookie year that had some highs and lows and real triumphs. Has he given you thoughts or words of encouragement going into this?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I think one thing he told me was just come out here, work hard, listen. There's going to be some hard moments, and there's going to be some good moments.

But throughout all that, just got to stay your ground, stay focused.

Q. You've been in the Bay for a few months. What have you explored and done out since you've moved out West?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I explored a couple things. I went to the Raven house. I went to Golden Gate Bridge. I think that's pretty much the most place I had to go, and it's cool. It's just cool being around here.

Q. What about the food here? We love our food here in the Bay Area. Taquerias, burritos, what's been your favorite dish?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I had to go to a couple places. I think being in the Bay, it was my first time trying a dumpling.

Q. What you think? Good? Thumbs up?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: It's good because there's so many different type of dumpling, so it was real good.

Q. Who do you model your game after?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I would say myself, and I watch a lot of Kobe.

Q. You've been a basketball star for a while. Do you think it will be difficult transitioning to more of a role player situation while you get your feet in the NBA?

JONATHAN KUMINGA: I mean, that's the process. Nobody ever came to the league and become the star right away. They had to go through a long process to get here and I think that's what -- that's the thing I'm doing. I'm trusting the process to the point I get there.