In today’s Dub Hub:
- ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater provide an update on Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency.
- Jimmy Butler celebrated his 36th birthday on Sunday.
- Germany wins EuroBasket 2025 after Sunday’s 88-83 victory over Turkey.
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is prepared to bet on himself as contract talks with the team remain unresolved. According to ESPN, the 22-year-old believes he has “multi-time All-Star potential” as he considers signing the one-year qualifying offer that would make him an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
But Kuminga has stated a belief that he has multitime All-Star potential. He has lined up loss of value insurance to protect himself in the event he signs the qualifying
offer. He’s intrigued by the possibility of unrestricted free agency next summer, sources said, when at least 10 teams are set to have real cap space.
Kuminga averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 45.4% from the field and 30.5% from three last season. However, injuries and lineup decisions from head coach Steve Kerr limited him to just 47 appearances, where he averaged 24.3 minutes per game.
His All-Star potential ultimately hinges on consistent minutes and a larger role on offense — glimpses of which emerged in the postseason. After seeing limited action in the first round against the Houston Rockets, he stepped into a much bigger role in the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, specifically once Stephen Curry went down with a hamstring injury. In Game 3 of that series, Kuminga played 36 minutes and delivered 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep, in the team’s narrow five-point loss. He followed that up with 23 and 26 points in Games 4 and 5, respectively, as the Warriors lost the series, 4-1.
That stretch showed what Kuminga can do with opportunity — and it’s the kind of performance that adds weight to his upcoming decision. He has until October 1 to sign the qualifying offer, a move that would strip the Warriors of flexibility since he would gain veto power over trades and could leave in free agency next summer.
While that represents a worst-case outcome for Golden State, ESPN noted there could still be financial upside for the organization.
But there are side benefits to that overall net negative that are being considered as part of the equation, sources said. Kuminga returning on the qualifying offer would allow the Warriors to remain below the first apron and, as a repeater tax team, save nearly $70 million in luxury tax money.
For both sides, the looming decision stands as a defining moment — one that could shape Kuminga’s career path and the Warriors’ push for another championship.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, September 15th:
Warriors News:
Inside the Warriors’ stalemate with Jonathan Kuminga | ESPN
So, Turner and Kuminga have presented alternatives. One of the latest counters, sources said, came in the past week: One year on a negotiable number, presented as a souped-up version of the qualifying offer, getting Kuminga a financial bump (up from $8 million) and unrestricted free agency next summer while wiping away the inherent no-trade clause and allowing the Warriors to use him as an expiring contract at the deadline. It would serve as a bridge deal that gives both sides the ability to examine another year together, but also a much more trade-friendly salary number as opposed to the qualifying offer, which has an Oct. 1 deadline. It is similar to a concept the Brooklyn Nets proposed to Cam Thomas.
Dunleavy declined the concept, sources said, and it is Lacob who is apparently against the balloon one-year offer, leaving the Warriors too vulnerable to losing Kuminga next summer for nothing.
Draymond Green makes bold declaration about Josh Allen after Week 1 comeback | NBC Sports Bay Area
“Josh Allen is a damn good quarterback,” Green said on the latest episode of his new ‘Why is Draymond Green talking about football?’ show. “But just because he’s a damn good quarterback, don’t make you the guy.
“He’s never gonna get it done when it matters the most. I don’t care how Herculean of a comeback effort you have at home in Week 1, he’s never gonna be the guy that’s gonna come out and win a championship and be the guy when it matters the most. He’s not the guy!”
Jimmy Butler celebrated his 36th birthday over the weekend
NBA News:
EuroBasket 2025: Germany holds off Turkey to win gold | NBA
Dennis Schröder simply took over to deliver more gold for Germany.
Schröder had the game’s final six points, Isaac Bonga scored a team-best 20 points and Germany topped Turkey 88-83 on Sunday in the gold medal game at the European championship.
It was Germany’s first EuroBasket title since 1993 and comes two years after the team — largely with the same core — won the World Cup title in 2023.
Giannis Antetokounmpo says winning the bronze medal for Greece is his ‘greatest accomplishment’
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Valkyries blown out by Lynx in WNBA Playoffs debut
Suddenly, the Golden State Valkyries dream expansion season is on life support. The eighth-seeded Valkyries made their postseason debut on Sunday, and lost to the championship-or-best top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 101-72. With the first round of the WNBA Playoffs being a best-of-three series, the Valkyries now have their back against the wall, and will need to pull a rabbit out of their hat given that they’ve lost four straight games, three of which have come against the Lynx.
Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
