Draymond Fires Back: Warriors' Kuminga Benched for Knee Tendinitis

Merlin sees Draymond Green pushing back after Jonathan Kuminga was benched and then missed the second half with "knee soreness," later reported as bilateral tendonitis. Green called Kuminga "one of the most bought-in guys" and stressed he "wants to be an All-Star," rejecting narratives that the rookie sulked. The episode matters because it reshuffles the Warriors’ rotation and comes amid a two-year, $48.5 million deal built with a team-friendly option. Merlin predicts the next weeks will be revealing: with Moses Moody and Will Richardson set to start, Golden State can either grow without Kuminga—making his role smaller and trade talks louder—or Kuminga can return healthy and reclaim starter minutes. Green’s public defense eases optics, but health and performance will decide his path.