The Bucks still have lingering interest in Jonathan Kuminga as a late offseason pickup, despite warnings about his playstyle not translating on his last two teams. However, Milwaukee might have the perfect recipe to get the most out of Kuminga, namely a head coach in Taylor Jenkins who’s known for his developmental work. Unlike Kuminga’s previous coaches, Jenkins can help build up his skillset and put him in positions to grow.
Milwaukee would be a dream for Kuminga
Kuminga has already been in the league for 5 seasons, but still hasn’t seemed to find his proper role yet. He’ll be 24 by the start of next season, still young enough for the right coach to mold his game. In his last two destinations, Kuminga did not have the luxury of working with a rebuilding coach, as both the Warriors and Hawks were playoff teams during his time with them.
For those reasons, Kuminga’s never been able to carve out a consistent starting role in the NBA. He wouldn’t be guaranteed that spot on the Bucks either, but he would get a better chance to showcase his game and learn from his mistakes than ever before.
Prior to joining the Bucks, Taylor Jenkins made waves by developing the young Grizzlies to a force in the West. He helped young players like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr reach All-Star heights early in their careers. With Kuminga, he would have an opportunity to work that same magic on a reclamation project.
Jenkins can help Kuminga improve his game
There are many obvious areas where Kuminga can improve with better coaching. His tendency to settle for contested midrange jumpers and poor playmaking are at the top of the list. But don’t be surprised if you see Kuminga cut out some inefficient shots and improve his passing under Jenkins.
After all, Jenkins has shown he can command the respect of even the most brash young players while helping them maximize their talents. In Memphis, he made the most of Morant’s slashing athleticism and Jackson’s 3-and-D capability as a big man.
For Kuminga, that coaching could look like encouraging him to attack the rim more often rather than settling for unwise jumpers. At the same time, he should develop better off-ball skills as a roller and spot-up shooter to improve his overall impact. Jenkins is the perfect guy to drill those messages into him and let him see the fruits of his labor play out on the court.
Jonathan Kuminga is at a crossroads in his NBA career, and his next decision could genuinely make or break his future in the league. Clearly, most teams are no longer interested in his services so he should take an opportunity that will help him change his ways for the better. There’s no better team to do that than the Milwaukee Bucks under Taylor Jenkins.
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