The 2021 NBA Draft will be an important event for teams to build for their future. Here is the Jonathan Kuminga 2021 NBA Draft Profile.
Jonathan Kuminga Background
Position: Forward
Size: 6-foot-6, 210 pounds
School: G-League
Class: N/A
2021 stats: 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.8 blocks per game, 1.0 steals per game, 38.7% FG, 24.6% 3PT, 62.5% FT
Kuminga doesn’t have the same household recognition of other players at the top of the 2021 NBA Draft class, but he will likely be selected early. He chose to forego college and play in the G-League before entering the NBA.
As a high school recruit, Kuminga was a 5-star by most recruiting services. He decided to skip college, despite having plenty of scholarship offers. In the G-League’s new prospect program, Kuminga was able to play for the NBA G-League Ignite. In 15 games played, Kuminga averaged 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
After spending his one season in the G-League, Kuminga has already been exposed to a lot of things it takes to be a pro basketball player. Now, he is a projected top 10 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Strengths
Kuminga has a nearly ready NBA body. He stands at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, which is a good start. His length is also good for his size. He’ll need to fill out his frame with some more muscle, but that will come with time. He is ready to play on the wing right now in the NBA from a physical perspective, given his size and unique athleticism.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kuminga has a chance to be special. He has great length, which can make him a disruptive defender. His ability to contest shots and get in the passing lanes with his long arms is very valuable. He has the ability to guard almost anyone on the floor and if a team decides to switch on pick and rolls, Kuminga will be able to defend his assignment.
Kuminga’s offensive game is built around getting to the basket. He can drive and beat his man in a halfcourt offense. Once he is past his man, he can finish at the rim very well. His ability getting to the basket also showed up when he was playing off the ball. He cut to the basket well and his teammates were able to find him for easy baskets. His driving ability is on full display in transition, where he weaves past defenders and can change the energy of a game with a huge dunk.
Weaknesses
Kuminga is not a very efficient offensive player. He shot just 38.7 percent from the floor, 24.6 percent from 3-point range and 62.5 percent from the free throw line. To be effective in the NBA these days a 3-point shot is needed for most perimeter players. With better shot selection and work on his jump shot, Kuminga can improve in this area.
His offensive awareness needs to continue to improve. There are times where Kuminga will hunt for his shot too much and will miss passing to an open teammate. When he is so focused on getting his own shot, he also becomes turnover-prone. Surveying the whole court and making the correct play is something he will have to work on at the next level.
While he showed the ability to get to the basket in the G-League, Kuminga needs to improve his ball-handling to complement his biggest offensive strength: Getting to the basket. He handles the ball decently, but he currently wins with a quick first step against bigger players and with strength against smaller defenders. Working on his handles and becoming more shifty with the ball in his hands will help open up his offensive game.
Projected Draft Range: Top 10 Pick
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