The move by Jonathan Kuminga from the Atlanta Hawks has become a major NBA offseason talking point. Many have questioned why Atlanta moved on from the young forward so quickly. 

However, Kuminga’s agent Aaron Turner says the situation was more complicated. Speaking on The Kevin O’Connor Show on Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel, Turner defended Kuminga and praised his impact in Atlanta. 

Turner said Kuminga quickly became one of Atlanta’s most important players when it came to helping the team win.

“JK got shipped to Atlanta, okay, and there’s a lot of talk about Jonathan Kuminga and his winning impact and the players. He was their best player from the moment he showed up in terms of winning impact”, Turner said. 

Turner also used Kuminga’s on-off net rating to support his point. He especially mentioned Atlanta’s playoff series against the New York Knicks.

“He had the best on-off net rating in the regular season and in the playoffs. In their two wins against the Knicks, who had the best net? These are facts. These aren’t opinions.”

Turner’s comments stand out because Kuminga spent only a short time with Atlanta. He joined the Hawks at the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline after his difficult situation with the Golden State Warriors led to a trade.

Jonathan Kuminga Had an Immediate Impact in Atlanta

Kuminga started his time with Atlanta well. He scored 27 points in his first game for the Hawks. However, injuries limited his playing time for the rest of the season.

Kuminga played 16 regular-season games for Atlanta and averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds, as per ESPN. These numbers do not clearly show that he was the Hawks’ best player, making Turner’s comments interesting.

Turner is looking beyond basic statistics. He is focusing on winning impact, lineup numbers, and how Atlanta performed when Kuminga was on the court.

As per a Basket News report, the Hawks finished the regular season with 46 wins and earned the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Kuminga also got a chance to play meaningful basketball after a difficult period with Golden State.

Atlanta had other young stars as well. Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists while earning his first All-Star selection. Nickeil Alexander-Walker also averaged 20.8 points, 3.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds.

This makes Turner’s claim about Kuminga’s winning impact even more interesting.

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Why Turner Supported Kuminga Leaving Atlanta

Turner’s argument was not just about Kuminga being Atlanta’s best player. He also questioned whether the Hawks were the right team for his future. Kuminga could have stayed, but Turner was unsure about his role. 

“Now, could J.K. have stayed in Atlanta this year, and where would that lead him in an expiring deal? Yeah, I mean, if he wanted to be the eighth player there or come off the bench, that could have possibly been something that, yes, he could have done that…”

Turner worried that Kuminga could have started the new season without a regular role. He believes Kuminga needs enough chances to show what he can do.

Atlanta also had other young players that the team wanted to build around. Turner therefore questioned how much Kuminga could grow if he stayed with the Hawks.

Because of this, Kuminga and his camp decided that a fresh start could be better.

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Timberwolves Give Jonathan Kuminga a New Chance

The Hawks declined Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option, according to the secondary report provided by Basket News. This allowed Kuminga to look for another team.

He eventually signed a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Now, Kuminga has another chance to build his career in a new system.

Turner believes this opportunity is more important than simply keeping Kuminga’s Bird rights or giving him a big expiring contract.

The agent explained that money and contract rights do not mean much if a player does not get enough chances to show his ability.

“I’d rather not have my bird rights, play good basketball, show the world what I can do, be part of a winning group, than say, oh, well, I have my bird rights, but I can’t play to the ability, to my capability…”

This idea seems to be important for Kuminga’s next step. His camp wants him to find a team where he can play a bigger role and have more chances with the ball.

Turner made that clear when he explained what Kuminga needs from his next team.

“The reality is, he needs to be in a situation where he can control the basketball, and he can put himself in the best situation.”

That statement makes Kuminga’s next chapter important, as Minnesota could finally give him the role and freedom he needs. 

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Jonathan Kuminga Now Has to Prove Himself

In the end, Turner believes Kuminga can answer the questions about his game by playing well.

The Minnesota Timberwolves now give the former Warriors forward a fresh chance. He can use this opportunity to show how much he can improve.

Turner also believes Kuminga does not need to answer every criticism with words. He can let his performances speak for him.

“Let’s let Jonathan Kuminga go play basketball for the first time in his career, where he wants to be, where he’s chosen. And I think we’ll all get to sit back and see the answers.”

The next part of Jonathan Kuminga’s career could be very important. If he plays well in Minnesota, his decision to leave Atlanta could look like an important step in his career.

Do you think Jonathan Kuminga can finally unlock his full potential with the Timberwolves and prove Aaron Turner right? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

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