Many Golden State Warriors supporters were flabbergasted why Jonathan Kuminga was not eligible for this year’s NBA Most Improved Player of the Year award won by Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey, considering he made a huge leap for the Dubs in the 2023-24 campaign.
The 21-year-old forward upped his averages from last year , particularly in the scoring category, from 9.9 points last year to 16.1 points per game this season. Jonathan Kuminga also averaged career-highs in field goal percentage (52.9 percent), free throw percentage (74.6 percent), rebounds (4.8), and assists (2.2) per game.
But despite missing out on the coveted individual award, Jonathan Kuminga can command a huge payday this summer since he is eligible for a new extension with the team.
So why Jonathan Kuminga wasn’t eligible despite playing well for the Golden State Warriors?
To win one of the NBA’s major individual awards, one must appear in at least 65 regular-season games to be eligible, and Jonathan Kuminga managed to play 74 of them this season. However, one key rule prevented him from being a candidate.
In those 65 appearances, a player must play at least 20 minutes each time. Jonathan Kuminga only did so 61 times, four shy of MIP consideration, similar to what happened to former Golden State Warriors teammate Donte DiVincenzo.
“He (Kuminga) fell 40 seconds short of 20 minutes once, and 27 seconds short another time. Kuminga played eight games where he was within two minutes of the 20-minute mark,” detailed Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area.
If Jonathan Kuminga met the criteria, then for sure, he would’ve been up there on this year’s list. Either way, as the Golden State Warriors slowly enter a new era, the former G League Ignite star is viewed as a key cornerstone for the team moving forward.
