Jonathan Kuminga gained fame for his role on the Golden State Warriors team. He was selected as the 7th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Warriors and is known for his proficiency in both the small forward and power forward positions.
Jonathan Kuminga Bio Summary
Full name: Jonathan Malangu Kuminga
Position: Power Forward, Center
Date of birth: October 6, 2002
Age: 22 years old (2024)
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight: 210 lbs (95 kgs)
Nationality: Congolese
Draft: 2021 (Round 1, Pick 7)
Nickname: The Kum Bucket
Profession: NBA player
Team: Golden State Warriors
Early Life & Education
Jonathan Malangu Kuminga was raised in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where his family had a strong interest in basketball, which influenced his passion for the sport.
Although Jonathan’s parents are not identified, his older brother, Joel Ntambwe, has played at the collegiate level for both UNLV and Texas Tech.
Kuminga has two cousins who are also professional basketball players. Emmanuel Mudiay has played for the Knicks, Nuggets, Kings, and Utah Jazz, and is now 27 years old and currently on the Iowa Wolves team in the G-league.
Kuminga started playing basketball in his home country at the age of two, before relocating to the United States in 2016 to pursue high school basketball.
As a freshman, the highly-regarded recruit competed for Huntington Prep School in Huntington, West Virginia before transferring to Our Savior New American School in Centereach, New York for his sophomore year. He played a crucial role in the team’s achievements, posting impressive stats of 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game.
Following the season, Kuminga faced older and larger adversaries in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League. While competing for NY Rens, Jonathan Kuminga maintained an average of 20.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.
NBA Career
Instead of going straight to the NBA Draft, Jonathan Kuminga decided to join an NBA G League team. During his time with Ignite, he maintained an average of 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
Chosen as the 7th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga continued to impress with his exceptional performances. He was also selected to play in the Rising Stars Challenge during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game weekend.
Known as “the Kum Bucket”, Kuminga showcased his skills in multiple positions for the team. In his first year in the NBA, Kuminga helped lead the Warriors to a victory in the finals against the Celtics in a six-game series.
In his short time in the league, Jonathan Kuminga had a significant influence, only playing one full season. He also achieved some notable accomplishments.
At 19 years old, Jonathan Kuminga achieved the title in his debut season in the league, making him the second-youngest NBA champion. The record for the youngest champion is held by Darko Miličić of the Detroit Pistons, who won the championship at 18 years and 361 days in 2004.
Kuminga was awarded the MVP trophy at the Slam Dunk to the Beach showcase after setting a new single-game record of 40 points.
Salary & Net Worth
Jonathan Kuminga, who was selected in the draft only a year ago, is currently under a Rookie contract with the Warriors.
The contract, worth $24,855,347 over 4 years with an average yearly salary of $6,213,837, is fully guaranteed and does not include any additional bonuses. After the 2025 season, Kuminga will become a restricted free agent.
During his early career, Jonathan Kuminga was highly regarded as a top potential player. He proved himself on the court, living up to his reputation. Currently, Jonathan Kuminga’s net worth is estimated at $1 Million, and he has not yet entered into any official endorsement agreements.