[ad_1]
The underachieving Golden State Warriors may have a significant locker room issue brewing, with several players rumored to be unhappy with their playing time. Ahead of the team’s home tilt with the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, head coach Steve Kerr’s response was to the point, if not a little tone-deaf.
“I played for 15 years, and all 15, I was frustrated with my playing time,” Kerr said via NBC Sports Bay Area. “So, this is how it works. This is the most competitive, lucrative league in the world. Every team has 15 to 17 guys who are all dying to play. Everyone’s frustrated.”
Of course, most players in the NBA want to see the hardwood more often. Not all players are created equal, though. That’s where Kerr’s remarks fall off the rails a bit.
The playing time controversy traces back to forward Jonathan Kuminga, the No. 7 overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft. Kerr certainly had his moments as a pro but was primarily relegated to a supporting role coming off the bench. So, comparing his frustrations to that of a lottery pick is apples to oranges.
According to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Kuminga has lost hope of reaching his full potential playing under Kerr. Things further erupted on Thursday when Kuminga failed to see the floor for the entire fourth quarter in a 130-127 loss to the Denver Nuggets. The most recent perceived slight was allegedly “the last straw” for the 21-year-old.
Kerr responded to the report, revealing that he had spoken to Kuminga without expanding on what they discussed.
“JK is a young player who’s growing; he’s getting better. It’s why he’s been in the starting lineup,” Kerr said via Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle. “He’ll continue to grow and this is all a part of his growth.”
The Warriors’ head coach said he encourages players to come to him with their issues, preferring to deal with them in-house before the narrative runs wild through the media. In Kuminga’s case, it’s already too late and Kerr’s comments about the situation didn’t do much to rectify it.
[ad_2]
Source link