Steve Kerr turned heads with his starting lineup against the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Jonathan Kuminga, after four up-and-down seasons with the team and a frustrating restricted agency that lasted the entire summer, was in the starting lineup for Game 1.

The Warriors ended up beating the Lakers 119-109, as Kuminga scored 17 points with 9 rebounds and 6 assists in 32 minutes. He looked like the player Golden State has challenged him to be ever since he was selected with the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and through one game, it appeared as if his offseason work had paid off.

Then came another huge test two nights later against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center, which presented Kerr a difficult lineup decision.

ESPN's Anthony Slater reported in

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