[外絮] Kuminga追求成為明星的機會

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CLEVELAND — In the lead up to a restricted free agency that will temporarily
solve his uncertain NBA future, Jonathan Kuminga spent the last two weeks
splitting time between two workout facilities on the east side of Cleveland.
His days started around 7 a.m. His training wrapped around 5 p.m.

The two separate sessions of court work were done in a gym with three murals
of NBA legends plastered on its interior wall: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and
Michael Jordan, painted and peering over Kuminga as he blasted through an
on-ball playmaking circuit designed by Ant Wells II, his skill development
trainer, under the belief that Kuminga possesses the talent to become a great.

The imagery is fitting considering the context of the moment.

克里夫蘭——在即將進入受限制自由球員市場、暫時為他充滿不確定性的NBA未來尋找出
路的此刻，Jonathan Kuminga在過去兩週將時間平均分配在克里夫蘭東部的兩個訓練設
施之間。他每天早上約7點開始訓練，一直到下午5點才結束。

他每天進行兩段籃球場上的訓練，地點是一間體育館，牆面上畫有三位NBA傳奇球星的壁畫：LeBron James、Kobe Bryant 和 Michael Jordan。他們彷彿正注視著 Kuminga，陪伴著他完成由技能訓練師 Ant Wells II 設計的控球進攻訓練。Wells 相信 Kuminga 擁有成為偉大球員的潛力。

在這個關鍵時刻，這樣的畫面顯得格外貼切。

Kuminga returned from a 31-game absence late in the regular season and
struggled to settle into a low-usage, off-ball reserve role with Jimmy Butlersuddenly in the mix for the Golden State Warriors. Steve Kerr pulled Kuminga
from the rotation in the first round of the playoffs and has made regular
reference about Kuminga’s need to sharpen the supplementary, role-playing
aspects of his game.

But Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury changed the landscape and exposed the
offensive shortcomings around the star guard. The Warriors had a desperate
need for higher level creation, scoring and general offensive talent in the
second round. Kuminga busted through the door with 18, 30, 23 and 26 points
on 55 percent shooting the last four games against an active group of
Minnesota Timberwolves defenders who struggled to stay in front of him or
keep him off the free-throw line (25 attempts).

That sample on that stage only hardened Kuminga’s belief in chasing his
preferred personal career path. His first crack at free agency is about
finding the contract he desires but also seeking what he wants, not
necessarily conforming into what this specific version of the Warriors needs.Kuminga has long held a dream of evolving into a star wing capable of drivingan offense and leading a team. With his future in the balance this next
month, he’s training and preparing accordingly.

Kuminga 在例行賽末段結束了長達31場比賽的缺陣後回歸，但在 Jimmy Butler 突然加入的情況下，他難以適應低使用率、無球為主的替補角色。Steve Kerr 在季後賽首輪甚至直接將 Kuminga 排除在輪換之外，並多次表示 Kuminga 需要提升作為團隊角色球員的補位與支援能力。

然而，Stephen Curry的腿筋受傷改變了局勢，也暴露出勇士隊在進攻端的缺陷。到了第二輪系列賽，球隊急需高層級的進攻創造者、得分手與進攻天賦。Kuminga 順勢抓住
機會，在對陣防守強悍的明尼蘇達灰狼時連續四場拿下 18、30、23 和 26 分，命中率高達 55%。灰狼防守球員無法阻止他切入，也無法限制他站上罰球線（四場共獲得25次罰球）。

在這樣的舞臺上打出這樣的表現，更加堅定了 Kuminga 追求個人理想職業道路的信念。他的首次自由球員機會，不只是為了爭取理想的合約，更是要尋找能讓他發展為進攻核心、領軍者的舞臺，而不再只是迎合目前這支勇士隊的需求。Kuminga 長期以來的夢想，是成為能掌控進攻、帶領球隊的明星側翼。面對接下來一個月的關鍵抉擇，他也正朝這個方向進行訓練與準備。

“That’s what’s been on my mind,” Kuminga told The Athletic. “Things take
time, but I feel like I’m at the point where that has to be my priority, to
just be one of the guys a team relies on. Aiming to be an All-Star. Multiple
times. Aiming to be great. … Wherever I’m going to be at, it don’t matter
if it’s the Warriors or if it’s anywhere else, it’s something I want. I
want to see what I could do. I know I got it. So I want to really see. I’ve
never got that chance.”

Kuminga’s two-week regimen in Cleveland begins with morning activation work
at Core Chiro, a high-end facility with all the strength trainers and modern
tools to optimize a professional athlete. Then it’s a 15-minute drive to the
gym for the first of his two court workouts.

This session includes a ton of dribble work and pick-and-roll reads. Those
are two areas Kuminga is attempting to polish up this summer — tightening
his handle and creating more for his teammates in high-screen action. He had
six assists in the Timberwolves series. If he is to get an opportunity to be
an offensive engine, he needs to locate and deliver to his teammates more
often.

「這就是我腦中一直在想的事，」Kuminga 在接受《The Athletic》訪問時表示。「事情需要時間，但我覺得現在這個時刻，我必須以這個目標為優先，成為球隊可以倚賴的球員。我的目標是入選全明星，而且不只一次。我要成為偉大的球員……不管我最後是留在勇
士，還是去其他球隊，這就是我想要的。我想看看自己到底能做到什麼。我知道我有那個能力，所以我真的想要證明。因為我從來沒得到真正的機會。」

Kuminga 在克里夫蘭的兩週訓練計畫，從早上的啟動訓練開始，地點是 Core Chiro —
— 一間高級訓練設施，配備齊全的力量教練與現代化設備，專門為職業運動員提升身體
機能。之後他會開車15分鐘，前往體育館進行當天的第一次球場訓練。

https://i.imgur.com/j5rHX2X.gif

這段訓練內容聚焦在大量的運球技巧與擋拆判讀，這正是 Kuminga 今夏致力提升的兩大領域——加強控球穩定性，並在高位擋拆中為隊友創造機會。他在對灰狼的系列賽中送出
六次助攻；若想要爭取作為進攻主導者的角色，他就必須更頻繁、更準確地找到隊友並完成傳球。

Kuminga’s shooting numbers in these workouts are being tracked. During a
nine-day snapshot in mid-June, he took 3,145 threes and 3,251 midrangers,
making 56 percent of his 3s — some catch-and-shoot, some off-the-dribble —
and 72 percent of his 2s. Those around him say he’s shooting it better than
he ever has before. He says he feels like everything — skills, strength,
mind, confidence — are starting to click.

But the percentages in a summer workout environment matter less than the
amount of reps, the specified focus and what it signals. In a Curry plus
Butler offense with Kerr directing traffic, Kuminga’s shot diet would
presumably remain limited. He’d be asked to catch-and-shoot, slash, screen
and only occasionally create. But he craves more.

“The more you hit those shots, those midrangers, the more teams start
adjusting on you, the more you make your team better, the more people rely onyou and let you do those things and let you shoot those types of shots,”
Kuminga said. “That’s pretty much what I’m putting a lot of work in,
getting to my area where I wanna get my shots off and getting better and
bring my percentages up.”

Kuminga 的投籃資料正在訓練中被仔細記錄。在 6 月中旬的一段為期九天的訓練中，他總共投了 3,145 顆三分球與 3,251 顆中距離投籃，其中三分命中率達 56%（包含接球即投與運球後出手），中距離命中率則高達 72%。身邊的人說，這是他狀態最好的時候；他自己也表示，無論是技術、力量、心態還是自信，各方面似乎都開始融合並發揮作用。

不過，這些訓練中的投籃命中率本身並不如訓練次數、專注內容與整體訊號來得重要。若仍留在 Curry 和 Butler 共存、Kerr 掌控節奏的勇士體系中，Kuminga 的出手選擇勢必仍會受到限制——接球投籃、切入、掩護、偶爾創造進攻，大概就是他會被要求扮演的角
色。但 Kuminga 渴望更多。

「當你越常命中這些中距離投籃，對手就會開始調整防守策略，你的球隊也會因此受益，隊友對你的信任度也會提升，讓你更有機會做出這些進攻選擇，讓你去投這些類型的球，」Kuminga 說道。「這就是我現在努力的重點——進入我想出手的區域，不斷提升，讓我
的命中率更上一層樓。」

https://i.imgur.com/3aSJSH8.gif

Kuminga’s four-season story with the Warriors isn’t about only untapped
potential and lack of opportunity.

He’s had long stretches of relevant production. As a rookie, he started
three playoff games and had a couple nice scoring nights in the second round.When Andrew Wiggins was away from the Warriors for the last two months of
Kuminga’s second season, Kuminga averaged 14.2 points on 57 percent shooting
in 21 post-All-Star break games, helping the Warriors to the sixth seed
before Wiggins returned and Kuminga disappeared.

Kuminga set a franchise record with 138 dunks in his third season. He scored
double-digits in 34 straight games. He averaged 20.6 points in January and
finished that season at 16.1 points per game on 52.9 percent shooting. His
fourth season included a big stretch prior to the ankle sprain — that at one
point had Draymond Green declaring Kuminga up next and accepting a brief
demotion — and the four-game playoff flurry to close against Minnesota.

“I did it here and there, but it was never a consistent role, a consistent
role given to me,” Kuminga said. “It only happens five games on, 10 games
off. I want it to be a consistent role. Because I know what I got. I know
what I could bring. I know how much work I put in. I know I’m dedicated to
this game, how much I love the game.”

It’s easier to envision Kuminga getting the guaranteed high-usage, on-ball
opportunity he desires away from the Warriors. They employ Curry and Butler,
and Kerr has made it clear the offense will revolve around those two, only
tilting toward Kuminga when one of the two is out of the lineup. There’d be
a clearer path on a younger roster without a pecking order this established.

Kuminga 在勇士隊四個賽季的歷程，並不只是「潛力未被開發」與「機會不足」的故事
而已

他其實早已證明過自己能穩定產出。在菜鳥年，他就曾在季後賽先發三場，並在第二輪打出幾場不錯的得分表現。第二季當 Andrew Wiggins 因私事缺陣最後兩個月時，Kuminga抓住機會，在全明星賽後的21場比賽中繳出場均14.2分、57%命中率的成績，幫助球隊搶下第六種子，但隨著 Wiggins 回歸，Kuminga 又被邊緣化。

第三季他繳出更具突破性的數據：單季 138 次灌籃打破隊史紀錄、連續 34 場得分上雙、1 月場均 20.6 分，整季最終以場均 16.1 分、52.9% 命中率作收。到了第四季，
Kuminga 在扭傷腳踝之前又迎來一波爆發，當時 Draymond Green 還曾公開表示
Kuminga 是球隊的「下一個核心」，Kuminga 也接受了短暫調整角色的挑戰。最後他在
季後賽收尾，他對明尼蘇達的四場火力展示，更是連四戰火力全開

「我確實曾經打出一些表現，但從未獲得一個穩定的角色，一個真正穩定的定位，」
Kuminga 說道。「總是打個5場又被冰10場。我想要的是穩定的角色，因為我知道自己
能帶來什麼，我知道我付出了多少努力，也知道我對這場比賽的熱愛。」

若想真正獲得穩定的出手權與控球角色，勇士或許不是最佳選擇。畢竟球隊已有 Curry
與 Butler 坐鎮，Kerr 也明言進攻會圍繞這兩人展開，Kuminga 只有在其中一人缺陣時才有機會被重用。相較之下，一支年輕、尚未建立固定明確核心的球隊，反而更可能
給他主導球隊進攻的機會。

But Kuminga’s talent and the handcuffs of both the CBA and restricted free
agency complicate the situation. Given the limitations, will the Warriors’
front office decision-makers (Joe Lacob, Mike Dunleavy, Kirk Lacob) find a
palatable enough sign-and-trade package to part with Kuminga? Or will the twosides have to find the right contract number to reconvene for a fifth season
of a partnership that has fit issues and scar tissue?

The Kevin Durant trade might’ve helped. The Miami Heat missed out on Durant
and have legitimate Kuminga interest, per league sources, among others
expected to explore the idea as the market materializes. The Brooklyn Nets
loom as a possible offer sheet team, but did use a chunk of their cap space
in a Tuesday night trade.

But Kuminga is steadfast about his long-term desires.

“I trust my people, trust my agent (Aaron Turner),” Kuminga said. “I want
to know more about how this trade stuff goes, how this sign-and-trade goes orhow this contract goes. I want to learn more about it. But most of the time Ijust focus on playing, just working. The better I get, wherever I get my
chance, it’s going to show.

“Wherever I go, wherever I’ll be, off the rip, I just want them to be like,
‘Oh, yeah, he deserved what he got. He deserved to be here. He worked hard
for it.’ Wherever it is, that’s what I want it to feel like. I want to be
great. I feel like I’m capable of being that, capable of doing some special
things and I won’t just let it go like that. The only way to get there is
just to lock in every single day.”

但 Kuminga 的天賦與目前CBA（聯盟薪資協議）以及受限制自由球員制度的束縛，使得整個情勢變得複雜。考量這些限制，勇士的高層（Joe Lacob、Mike Dunleavy、Kirk Lacob）是否能找到一個足夠合理的先簽後換方案，與 Kuminga 分道揚鑣？還是雙方得談出一份合適的合約數字，讓這段有著定位矛盾與心理傷痕的合作關係繼續第五年？

Kevin Durant 的交易或許提供了轉機——邁阿密熱火錯失 Durant 後，據聯盟消息人士
指出，他們對 Kuminga 有實質興趣。而隨著市場逐漸明朗，預料會有更多球隊跟進評估他。布魯克林籃網也可能成為報價單的潛在球隊，但他們在週二晚間的交易中已使用了部分薪資空間。

不過 Kuminga 對自己的長期目標仍然非常堅定。

「我信任我的團隊，信任我的經紀人（Aaron Turner），」Kuminga 表示。「我也想多了解交易是怎麼進行的，先簽後換的流程是什麼，合約的運作方式又是什麼。我想學更多。但多數時候我還是專注在打球，專注在訓練。當我變得更強，不管機會在哪裡，它都會展現出來。

不管去哪、不管在哪裡，一開始我就希望人們能說：『沒錯，他值得得到這一切。他值得站在這裡。他為此付出了努力。』這就是我所期望的。我想要成為偉大球員。我相信自己有這個能力，也能做出一些不凡的事，我不會就這樣放棄。唯一的方式，就是每天都全力以赴。」

雖然Kuminga提到了自己沒有穩定的定位跟機會 不過他的心態整體一直都是很正面的

也認為要拿到更多角色只能強化自己 自己能打得更好就會有機會

也相信自己能成就偉大 看看勇士如果留住 能不能找到給他的機會了

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