Kuminga, Fined: $35K for Confrontation with Referee in Preseason Game

Kuminga Fined for Inappropriate Contact with a Referee

The NBA has fined Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga $35,000 for the actions that resulted in his ejection during the first half of a preseason game against Portland on Tuesday night. Kuminga was frustrated after not getting a foul call on a shot attempt with seven seconds left in the second quarter. After stumbling while attempting a drive to the basket between two defenders, he missed the layup and immediately confronted referee Rodney Mott, applauding in his face. Mott ejected him. Two days later, the league fined Kuminga for “making inappropriate contact with a game official and continuing to pursue him.”

I actually liked the ejection because I’ve been looking for a little more fire in Kuminga.

Steve Kerr, Warriors Coach

After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr expressed that he “actually liked” the ejection, as he has been looking for more intensity in Kuminga. Kerr added that “he needed it. It was a play of frustration. I have no problem with that. He deserved the foul. He was getting a lot of fouls. It was a physical game.” Kuminga, who returned to the Warriors earlier this month with a two-year, $46.8 million contract after some tense contract negotiations this summer, has shown improvements in his playmaking game in the preseason and had 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists at the time of his ejection. “The way he ran on the play of the ejection, the activity with which he played, the rebound,” Kerr said. “That’s the JK who can really help our team, I loved the way he played. I love the fire, the passion, I don’t care about the ejection at all.” It appeared that Kuminga’s arm had been hit on the drive, but he told the media in the post-game locker room that what bothered him most was that his right ankle was stepped on during the gather step. Kuminga severely sprained his right ankle last season and said he had a flashback of that injury when Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija accidentally stepped on it, which made him lose his temper with the referee. “I wasn’t surprised he was ejected because he got in [Mott]’s face,” Kerr said. “You can’t do that. You’re going to get ejected if you do that.”