Jonathan Kuminga is settling into a team-first role with the Minnesota Timberwolves after joining the franchise during the off-season. The Congolese forward, who signed a two-year, $12.4 million deal with a player option for the second season, said Minnesota has not asked him to overhaul his game. "Just tell them just be you, the best version of you," Kuminga said on Saturday. "To rebound more, just playing defense, be more aggressive, and small things like that."
Kuminga has also taken on a more vocal role with his new teammates. "I'm trying to be as vocal as I can so everybody could feel comfortable with me," he said, adding that communication runs both ways as he shares knowledge and learns from others around him.
Defensively, Kuminga believes the Timberwolves will improve with time. "The more we play together, the more we get more reps, I think we all will know what this person like, how to guard certain people," he said. He praised head coach Chris Finch for clear communication during his first week and said his off-court relationship with Rudy Gobert is already translating on the court.
Kuminga sees preseason games as vital for building chemistry alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu. Individual statistics, he stressed, are secondary. "Us all being impactful to this game of basketball and helping each other," he said. "That's a success to me. And a very successful season to all of us."
