Jonathan Kuminga Underrated or Overrated?

Jonathan Kuminga doesn't yet have an extension, news that serves as a reminder of how pivotal this season is for the Congo native and Golden State Warriors. HoopsHype recently released their top-100 list, and Kuminga's placement deserves conversation, as it alludes to where many believe he belongs regarding NBA tiers.

However, before discussing where Kuminga ranks, it's crucial to break down his 2023-24 season performance.

Kuminga's scoring increased in his third season. His field goal attempts rose from 6.2 to 11.6, and his free-throw attempts jumped from 2.1 to 4. Did Kuminga have a coming-of-age season or merely experience a natural process of maturing in the league?

Offensively, he had a mixed bag, which led to a "very good" rating using Synergy Sports. Kuminga scored 1,314 points on 1,233 possessions.

Defensively, though, he was average, as he struggled guarding the pick-and-roll roll man and hand-off sequences.

Ultimately, last season's outing "earned" him the No. 83 spot on the Hoops Hype top-100 list.

Notable players who ranked above Kuminga make for necessary conversation:

• Sacramento Kings Keegan Murray
• Portland Trail Blazers Jerami Grant
• New Orleans Pelicans Herb Jones
• Toronto Raptors Immanuel Quickley
• Los Angeles Lakers D'Angelo Russel

Related: What is Jonathan Kuminga Worth to Golden State?

The main takeaway from this list regarding Kuminga's placement is that he needs plenty of improvement if people think Russell is better.

Keegan Murray's shooting helps his reputation around the league despite his actual numbers not reflecting. Furthermore, his last season's 3-point shooting fell behind league-average percentages, as he shot 35 percent from such range.

Defense and jump-shooting stats keep Kuminga from receiving more favorable commentary and rankings.

If Kuminga is who he believes, he must improve to avoid conversations that would place him among playoff net negatives like Russell.