Have the Golden State Warriors figured it out?
After spending some time outside the play-in, the 2022 NBA champions are now just three games behind a Top 6 spot. Their most recent win was a dominant one against the Toronto Raptors on the road.
They lost just three times out of 14 games in February.
Stephen Curry is his usual brilliant self, putting up clutch shots here and there. Klay Thompson embraced the off-the-bench role and excelled in it. Draymond Green is being normal now.
While these three veterans continue to be the team's core, there's one player that guys around the league thought was the key to their return to winning ways.
Jonathan Kuminga's stats since January are at an All-Star level. He was the one who unlocked the Warriors' potential amidst all the injuries and suspensions they had to deal with.
He currently averages 15.6 points per game, the third-best on the team.
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He scored in double digits in all but one of their last 11 games, including 25 and 25 in road wins against the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors.
Green himself has faith that Kuminga is going to become a star.
"That young fella is a stud. Getting to the basket at will, finishing with the best of them, getting to his spots-nobody can stop him from getting to his spots," Draymond said in his podcast.
"[He's] showing you the promise that we've all believed is there. He's stepping into that now. He's playing a big role on this team now and that's not changing, no time soon."
Green saying this matter-of-factly can't be doubted anymore. Kuminga got the statistics to back it up.
However, his way up was difficult.
Jonathan Kuminga's rise
Kuminga was drafted seventh overall by the Warriors in 2021 and became an instant contributor for the team, playing 16.9 minutes per game in the regular season of his rookie year.
The minutes went down come the playoffs as they were reduced to 8.6 mpg. The Warriors won their fourth NBA title that season after defeating the Boston Celtics in five games.
After their championship run, there was huge hype over him, but his sophomore year was marred by injuries. He only played in 67 games in the 2022-2023 season.
The 2023-2024 season was just as bad as his sophomore season. Many thought he was being stagnant, and the minutes he was getting were not on par for someone who was picked seventh.
The issue is again on his minutes on the floor and how several times he was benched in the closing minutes in favor of other teammates.
His frustration came to a boiling point after their loss to the Denver Nuggets during their Christmas Day game.
"Sometimes, I come out the game not knowing what I did," Kuminga said. "And that messes with my head. It's like, 'What they want me to do?' I can pass and I can do different s-."
By January, there were talks that he lost his faith in coach Steve Kerr after he was benched in the closing minutes of their game, again, versus the Nuggets.
While it can't be confirmed if he did feel this way, it looks like he and Kerr were able to sort things out.
The key to his increased play is finally getting a defined role.
He has become a regular starter since then and is excelling in a role where he does not have to be the offense's focal point.
His young legs became a perfect fit for the Warriors, who continue to stick to a small-ball offense with Green as their center.
Kerr also gave him more assignments on the defensive end as a switcher, which showed against the Knicks when he was made to guard Jalen Brunson in multiple plays.
He also does not need for the ball to be passed to him now. Instead, he leads the team's transition offense. He is also anchoring the team's defense with his elite rim protection.
Kuminga unlocked the Warriors' resurgence. He can be a bigger star if he remains the best player.
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