New Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jonathan Kuminga sparked debate by calling teammate LaMelo Ball the best passer he's ever played with. The comment, made at his introductory press conference, drew a pointed public response from an NBA insider who referenced Kuminga's former Golden State Warriors teammates Steph Curry and Chris Paul. This comes as the Timberwolves look to move past a tough playoff series, having lost their last two games, including a 109-139 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on May 16.
At his first media session since signing a two-year, $13 million deal with a player option, Kuminga was effusive in his praise for his new point guard. "I've played with so many point guards in my career, but I've never played with someone that can pass as good as LaMelo," Kuminga told reporters. The 23-year-old champion waited through the summer for the right opportunity and landed in Minnesota, where he's expected to start alongside Anthony Edwards, Ball, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert.
His statement immediately raised eyebrows. Kuminga spent the first three seasons of his career with the Golden State Warriors, sharing the court with future Hall of Famers Steph Curry and Chris Paul. Both are widely regarded as elite playmakers, with Curry's gravity creating passing lanes and Paul long considered one of the game's premier floor generals.
NBA insider Brett Siegel offered a blunt, sarcastic rebuttal on social media. "Seems like Chris Paul and Steph Curry are terrible passers. Weird," Siegel posted. The jab highlights how Kuminga's praise for Ball can be interpreted as a slight against his former teammates. Curry, of course, was the leader of the Warriors team that won the 2022 NBA championship, a title Kuminga was part of.
Paul's career assist numbers place him among the best distributors in league history. Calling Ball, a talented but less proven passer, the best he's ever played with is a bold claim that downplays established legends. While Ball is a gifted and flashy passer, he hasn't yet matched the consistency or playoff success of Curry and Paul over their long careers.
The Timberwolves are coming off a challenging Western Conference playoff run. Their recent form shows one win and four losses in their last five outings (LLWLL). Other results from that series included a 126-97 loss on May 13 and a 114-109 win on May 10.
Despite the tough finish, the franchise is fully invested in winning now. Their aggressive offseason began with the trade for LaMelo Ball and was capped by signing Kuminga. The team believes the core of Edwards, Ball, McDaniels, Gobert, and now Kuminga makes them a serious contender in the West. Kuminga's athleticism and defensive versatility are seen as key additions.
Integrating Kuminga into the starting lineup will be a primary focus. His ability to defend multiple positions and finish in transition should complement Edwards' scoring and Ball's playmaking. However, his public comments have added an unexpected layer of external scrutiny. The media attention he hoped would fade after free agency has instead continued.
The Timberwolves' potential will be tested against a full schedule. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matchups on our schedule page. For Kuminga, the focus must shift to on-court production. Building chemistry with Ball and Edwards is far more important than press conference soundbites. If this new-look Wolves team lives up to its billing, the early-summer drama will be quickly forgotten.
