Jonathan Kuminga finished the overtime loss in Cleveland with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and his offensive rebound after LaMelo Ball missed two free throws gave Minnesota one last possession. Golden State visits Target Center on Wednesday, and four games in, his role in this lineup is getting clearer.
The Fifth Starter
Kuminga is not asked to carry anything. He plays 29.8 minutes a night beside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, and his usage rate of 14.2 percent shows how few possessions end with him. He makes the most of them: 11.5 points, 2.5 assists and 0.3 turnovers a game. That starting group has played 56 minutes together across all four games and outscored opponents by 26.3 points per 100 possessions. Ethan Kinney of Dunking with Wolves described it as the Aaron Gordon role, and the comparison holds up. Kuminga sets up the stars and does the dirty work, and Finch trusted him enough to keep him in for the final five minutes in Cleveland.
Where the Value Hides
Most of what he adds shows up on defense. Minnesota allows 93.2 points per 100 possessions with Kuminga on the court, compared with 100.5 for the team overall. He averages 2.0 steals and 5.8 rebounds, and his net rating of +24.7 comes from that end more than from his scoring. Eamon Cassels of Dunking with Wolves wrote that he is already showing value as a defensive stopper. In Cleveland he added a block and a steal in 36 minutes and was +10 in a two-point loss. That makes him one of three Wolves who finished with a plus-minus of +5 or better.
The Shot That Decides It
The open question about Kuminga is still the jumper. He is making 46.7 percent of his threes on 3.8 attempts a game, and his true shooting is 55.9 percent. Kenny Kluska of Dunking with Wolves wrote that he is starting to quiet fears about his shooting. Cleveland was a reminder of how quickly that can change: he went 0 for 4 from deep and 2 for 4 at the line, and he is shooting 50.0 percent on free throws so far. His contract makes the case even stronger. He earns $6.1 million this season with a $6.4 million player option for 2027-28, on a payroll of $215.3 million that sits above the first apron. Minnesota has no cheaper way to find a starter. The verdict is simple. Kuminga needs to stay a low-usage defender and rebounder who keeps taking the open three even on nights it does not fall, because the lineup's +26.3 depends on defenses having to guard him.
What is Jonathan Kuminga's contract with the Timberwolves?
He earns $6.1 million in 2026-27. His 2027-28 salary of $6.4 million is a player option.
Is Jonathan Kuminga injured?
No, he is not on the injury report. He played 36 minutes in the overtime loss at Cleveland and finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
