[外絮] Kuminga與Kerr的關係

https://sfstandard.com/2025/10/29/jonathan-kuminga-steve-kerr-warriors/

A strange and strained summer of negotiation could’ve alienated Jonathan Kuminga from all important facets of the Warriors, but he seems more connected than ever to everyone in this franchise.

經歷一個波折與緊繃的夏天談判，本可能讓 Jonathan Kuminga 與勇士隊的重要成員產生隔閡，但他現在看起來反而比以往任何時刻都更融入這支球隊。

A tangle of conflicting signals about his place with the team and his interest in finding a larger role elsewhere could’ve made Kuminga something of a nonentity in the locker room and in Steve Kerr’s planning, with a ticking countdown for his eventual exit.

關於他在球隊中的定位，以及他是否想在別處尋求更大的角色，曾出現許多相互矛盾的訊號。這些混亂本可能讓 Kuminga 在更衣室與 Steve Kerr 的戰術規劃中被邊緣化，並且啟動離隊的倒數計時。

But Kuminga seems happier and more plugged into Kerr’s ethos and guidelines —by a factor of 100 — than at any time in his complicated Warriors career. It just seems simpler: He’s good, he’s maturing, he gets minutes, he plays well, he fits in, he’s trusted.

但 Kuminga 現在看起來比他在勇士生涯中的任何時刻都更快樂、更契合 Kerr 的信念與方針——簡直高出一百倍。現在一切都變得更簡單：他狀態好、正在成熟、有穩定上場時間、表現出色、融入球隊，並且獲得信任。

Yes, at least for now, this seems to be the rarest of NBA developments: What looked like something that would tear things apart has actually created a healthy dynamic for a team that remains unilaterally focused on winning one more title in the Stephen Curry era.

沒錯，至少目前看來，這是NBA裡極為罕見的情況：原本看似會讓球隊分崩離析的事件，反而塑造出一種健康的氛圍，讓這支仍全心追逐「Stephen Curry 時代再奪一冠」的球隊更加團結。

“I wouldn’t want to be the problem to mess it up,” Kuminga told me in the locker room after Tuesday’s victory over the Clippers. “I’m growing. I’m in my
fifth year now. I know what winning means. And I know what I want to get — winning a championship.

「我不想成為那個把一切搞砸的問題人物，」Kuminga 在週二擊敗快艇後於更衣室中對我說。「我正在成長，這已經是我的第五個賽季了。我知道贏球意味著什麼，也知道自己想要的是什麼——奪得冠軍。」

“There is no bad blood or anything like that. I don’t think there was ever bad blood. It’s just all the narrative, all the talking around outside. But we’re good. We’re good.”

「沒有什麼恩怨或矛盾。我不覺得我們之間有過什麼問題。那些只是外界的說法、外界的討論而已。我們很好，真的很好。」

Kuminga was smiling as he said this but clearly miffed that he had to utter thewords; that anybody presumed he would sign his two-year, $48 million deal (withonly this year’s $23.5 million guaranteed) and not come back committed to whatever helps the team win games.

Kuminga 在說這番話時笑著，但顯然對於必須親口澄清這些事感到有些不滿——畢竟，有人竟然認為他簽下兩年4,800萬美元的合約（其中只有今年的2,350萬美元是保障薪資）後，會不再全心投入球隊、幫助勇士贏球。

But it’s not just that Kuminga has been such a good teammate since signing thedeal late last month — then turning 23 a few weeks later — it’s that he has played so efficiently and so thoughtfully in these first five games.

但重點不只是他在上月底簽約、幾週後滿23歲以來，展現身為優秀隊友的態度；更在於他在本季前五場比賽中打得極其高效且高球商。

It’s that Kerr, who dropped Kuminga from the rotation late last season and into the playoffs because he didn’t fit with the new Jimmy Butler kinetic wave, couldn’t ask for more. And Kerr has wisely rewarded Kuminga by putting him and keeping him in the starting lineup to start this season next to Curry, Butler, andDraymond Green (with a floating fifth spot).

而 Kerr——上季末及季後賽期間因 Kuminga 不適應球隊引進的Jimmy Butler 體系而將他排除輪替——如今對他的表現再滿意不過。Kerr 也明智地給予他回報，讓他在本季與 Curry、Butler 和 Draymond Green 一同擔任先發（第五人位置則依情況調整）。

“He’ll be our starter going forward,” Kerr said of Kuminga before Tuesday’s
game. “He’s been fantastic. Last night put him on Ja [Morant]. Tonight, we’ll put him on James Harden.

「從今天起，他會是我們的先發之一。」Kerr 在週二賽前談到 Kuminga 時說：「他表現得非常出色。昨晚我們讓他去防 Ja（Morant），今晚他要防 James Harden。」

“I think he’s ready to take on that role defensively. And what he’s doing offensively, the decision-making, the shot-selection. We’ve hardly seen any of the mid-shot-clock 17-foot pull-ups. We’ve seen him being much more focused on getting the ball to Jimmy, getting the ball to Steph, attacking the rim. He’s really putting a lot of pressure on people.

「我認為他已經準備好承擔這個防守角色。而在進攻端，他的決策、投籃選擇都成熟許多。我們幾乎沒再看到那種進攻時間還充裕就急著拔中距離的出手。他現在更專注於把球傳給 Jimmy、傳給 Steph，或直接攻向籃框。他真的在給對手施加壓力。」

“The biggest thing is the combination of Jimmy and Draymond and JK wasn’t great last year. But because of all the improvements that JK has made, his passing and stuff I just mentioned, it’s really clicking.”

「最重要的是，去年 Jimmy、Draymond 和 JK 的組合效果並不好，但隨著 JK 的進步——包括我剛提到的傳球與判斷力——現在整體的化學反應變得非常順暢。」

Kuminga had a quiet game (compared to his first four) Tuesday, but in its way, his performance was more subtle and even more important because it’s so sustainable.

Kuminga 在週二的表現相對平靜（和前四場相比），但某種程度上更細膩，也更關鍵，因為這樣的表現更能長久維持。

He didn’t get as many touches or shots, but he kept doing the little and medium things that mean so much to the Warriors. Grabbing loose balls. Hounding Harden on defense. Passing to cutters. Just running. Never looking impatient. Never getting yanked out of the game by Kerr after a bad mistake.

他這場沒有太多出手機會，但仍在做許多對球隊而言非常重要的「小事」與「中事」：搶地板球、防守時緊盯 Harden、傳球給切入的隊友、全場奔跑。他從不顯得不耐煩，也不會因為一個失誤就被 Kerr 馬上換下場。

But Kuminga later emphasized that he’s just fine if Kerr barks at him for an error. In fact, Kuminga said he’s told Kerr that he wants to be held accountable, to be told directly, to be able to talk about it, and to sit on the bench for a while when and if these things happen.

但 Kuminga 隨後強調，就算 Kerr 吼他、指出錯誤，他也完全沒問題。事實上，他說自己主動要求 Kerr 對他更嚴格，犯錯時要直接指出，必要時甚至可以讓他坐板凳反省。

“I think we’re just staying on top of communications, me and him — things that I feel or see out there or things that he sees,” Kuminga said. “Our communication has been great, figuring out things.

「我覺得我跟他現在的溝通非常順暢——無論是我在場上看到什麼、感覺到什麼，或是他看到的事情。」Kuminga 說：「我們之間的溝通真的很好，能一起想辦法解決問題。」

“I remember some of the things I’ve told him before, like, ‘I’d love you to
coach me as hard as you can. Just coach me. Just don’t go away from me, just coach me. No matter the circumstance. I do something bad that I don’t need to do, don’t go away from me. Come tell me that. If you don’t tell me in the middleof the game, send somebody. I want that word coming from you.’

「我記得我以前就跟他說過：『我希望你能用最嚴格的方式來指導我。你就直接教我，不要放棄我，不要躲開我，不管發生什麼事。當我做錯事時，不要疏遠我，要直接來告訴我。如果你不能在比賽中馬上說，就派別人來傳話。我希望那句話是從你來的。』

“I’m not going out there trying to do much. There is nights where they’re going to want me to do more and do what I can do. But there’s nights like today, just go out there and do what you’ve gotta do, no matter what’s going on, and stay positive and move on.”

「我不會在場上刻意去做太多事。有些夜晚球隊會需要我多做一些、展現能力，但也有像今天這樣的比賽——就是上場、做好該做的事，不管發生什麼事都保持積極，繼續向前。」

I asked Kuminga: Did you and Kerr maybe need all the summer drama to figure outhow much you guys needed to clear the air?
“For what?” Kuminga shot back.

我問 Kuminga：「你覺得這個夏天那些風波，是否讓你和 Kerr 有機會釐清彼此之間需要溝通的地方？」
「為什麼要釐清？」Kuminga 反問。

About your role and whether he believes in you.

「關於你的角色，或是他是否信任你。」

“I said when I first started talking to you, I told you that I just wanted himto push me more, harder,” Kuminga said. “There is nothing about ‘believing,’
anything about roles, none of that.

「如同我剛剛說的，我只希望他能更嚴格地督促我。」Kuminga 說道。「這跟『信任不信任』、或『角色定位』完全沒有關係。」

“You said, ‘Did we have to clear anything?’ There was nothing to clear. There is no problem between me and Steve. That’s my coach, and I’m his player. I come in every day to win. He’s going to push me hard, and that’s how we’re going to keep going to help the team win.”

「你問我們是否需要『釐清問題』？根本沒有什麼要釐清的。我和 Steve 之間沒有問題。他是我的教練，我是他的球員。我每天進來就是為了贏球。他會嚴格要求我，而我們也會繼續這樣下去，幫助球隊取得勝利。」

The results so far are undeniable. Let’s go through some of them.

目前成果無庸置疑。以下是幾項具體數據。

‧ The Warriors weren’t in love with the grueling pace of games to start this season — five in eight days, including two back-to-backs, but they got through it with a 4-1 record, including going 2-0 against the Clippers and Lakers after going 1-7 against the L.A. teams last season.

‧ 勇士並不特別喜歡這季開賽初段那種緊湊的賽程——八天五戰，其中還有兩次背靠背—
—但他們仍打出 4 勝 1 負的戰績，尤其在對上洛杉磯雙雄（快艇與湖人）時 2 勝 0 負，上季他們對這兩隊的戰績是慘淡的 1 勝 7 負。

With Kuminga at full force, suddenly they can tap into his energy at almost anypoint of the game, a key part of at least two or three of these wins.

有了 Kuminga 的全力發揮，球隊現在幾乎在任何時刻都能從他的能量中受益——這至少是其中兩三場勝利的關鍵要素。

‧ Kuminga is averaging a career-high 30.2 minutes per game but taking only 10.8 shots per, lower than the previous two seasons, when he played a lot less — and averaging a career-high 16.2.

‧ Kuminga 本季場均上場時間達生涯新高的 30.2 分鐘，但每場出手僅 10.8 次，比他上季（出場時間更少時）還低；然而場均得分卻是生涯新高的 16.2 分。

‧ He’s shooting 52.7% overall, 43.8% from 3-point distance, which is far above his career 33.5% career rate. He’s also taking fewer 3s — one less per 36 minutes than he did last season.

‧ 他的整體命中率為 52.7%，三分命中率高達 43.8%，遠超過他生涯平均的 33.5%。而且他出手三分的次數比上季還少，每 36 分鐘少投約一球。

‧ Kuminga is averaging 7.4 rebounds per game, far above his career 4.1 reboundaverage.

‧ Kuminga 場均抓下 7.4 個籃板，遠高於生涯平均的 4.1 個。

It’s showing up most significantly on the all-important defense glass, where his rebound rate is up to 21%, from a career rate of 14.7%.

這特別體現在防守籃板上——他的防守籃板率已提升到 21%，相較於生涯平均的 14.7% 有顯著進步。

‧ So far this season, his usage rate is a relatively moderate 21.6%. Last season, one of Kerr’s problems was that Kuminga had one of the highest rates in theleague even in a supposed supplementary role: 27.4%. (For comparison, Curry’s usage rate was 29.8%, and Butler’s was 20.6% during his Warriors stint last season.)

‧ 目前為止，他的使用率是相對適中的 21.6%。而在上個賽季，Kerr 的一個問題是 Kuminga 即使身處「輔助角色」，使用率卻高達 27.4%，是全聯盟最高之一。（作為對比，Curry 上季的使用率為 29.8%，而 Butler 在勇士效力期間則是 20.6%。）

‧ And Kuminga’s time with the crucial threesome of Curry, Butler, and Draymond has yielded pure gold for the Warriors so far. That group has played more thanany Warriors four-man unit (72 minutes) and has a +27.3 net rating.

‧ 而 Kuminga 與 Curry、Butler、Draymond 這三人組合的上場時間，至今為止為勇士帶來了極佳的成果。這個四人組的出場時間（72 分鐘）是全隊所有四人組中最長的，淨勝分達 +27.3。

By the way, Kuminga is also on the second-, third-, and fifth-best four-man Warrior units so far this season. (One consequence of starting Kuminga is that Kerrcan match his minutes with Curry, which is always a good thing for any player. And that clears the way for a Butler unit when Curry and Kuminga are out.)

順帶一提，Kuminga 同時也是本季勇士第二、第三和第五佳四人組合的一員。（讓 Kuminga 進入先發的一個好處，是 Kerr 能將他的上場時間與 Curry 對齊——這對任何球員來說都不會是壞事。而這也讓 Butler 能帶領另一組陣容在 Curry 和 Kuminga 休息時登場。）

And, as Kuminga and Kerr have noted, when Curry, Butler, and Draymond get some nights off (hasn’t happened yet, but it’s coming), Kuminga and the other youngplayers will have even larger roles.

此外，正如 Kuminga 和 Kerr 所說，當 Curry、Butler、Draymond 偶爾輪休時（目前尚未發生，但遲早會），Kuminga 和其他年輕球員將會扮演更吃重的角色。

Will this last forever? Probably not. There have been wild ups and downs in this situation for four-plus years already, and there will surely be more to come.

這樣的狀況會永遠持續下去嗎？大概不會。過去四年多來，這段關係早已歷經不少起伏，未來肯定還會有波動。

Coincidentally, if this really is a permanent breakthrough for Kuminga, he willbecome even more interesting and valuable on the trade market in January and February. But if they keep winning, of course, the Warriors would have less incentive to want to trade him. We’ll see how far this goes.

巧合的是，如果這真是 Kuminga 的永久突破，他在一月與二月的交易市場上勢必會變得更具吸引力與價值。但若球隊持續贏球，勇士當然就更沒有理由交易他了。事情會如何發展，我們拭目以待。

One of the more interesting developments as a side note to this Kuminga situation is that Butler is specifically committed to supporting him and nudging him every day.

在 Kuminga 的這整個情況中，有個有趣的支線發展——Butler 幾乎每天都在主動支持並督促他。

“He’s happy; he’s joyful,” Butler said of Kuminga. “He knows that he’s pla
ying at a high level, he knows that everybody wants him to continue to do that.I’m just here to make sure he stays level-headed.”

「他很快樂、很有熱情，」Butler 談到 Kuminga 時說道，「他知道自己打得很好，也知道大家都希望他繼續保持。我只是確保他能維持冷靜與專注。」

Wait: Butler as the Warriors’ wise old head for the youngsters? I would not have predicted that at any time before this month, but it’s all true and all right in front of us.

等等——Butler 成了勇士年輕球員的「老大哥」？在這個月之前我絕對想不到這件事，但現在確確實實就在眼前上演。

Late Tuesday night, as Butler was on his way to the podium to speak to reporters, he made a point to stop by Kuminga’s locker and ask him about the colorful design on some of his extra shoes. Kuminga smiled, and they chatted for a few seconds — just Butler making sure he was checking in with a player he obviously sees as a key to this season.

週二晚間，在 Butler 前往講台接受媒體訪問的途中，他特地繞去 Kuminga 的置物櫃旁，問他那些色彩繽紛的備用球鞋設計代表什麼。Kuminga 微笑回應，兩人閒聊了幾句——這只是 Butler 確認自己有關心到他眼中這位本季關鍵球員的一個舉動。

“There are so many people that are in his corner — I’m one of them,” Butler
said a few minutes later. “There’s so many other individuals in this organization, on this team, this coaching staff as well that want him to be great.

“And it’s OK to make mistakes. You’ve just gotta listen. Sometimes it may not always come off the way that you want it to. But I tell him, I promise, it’s in good faith. Like, nobody’s just yelling at you to yell at you.”

「有很多人都在他身邊支持他——我就是其中之一，」Butler 幾分鐘後說道，「球團裡有很多人、隊上也有很多人、教練團也是，大家都希望他變得更強。

「犯錯沒關係，只要願意聽。有時候表達方式不一定是你想要的那樣，但我告訴他，我保證那都是出於善意。沒有人會無緣無故對你大吼。」

The main theme from Kuminga is that he’s not going to be overly sensitive about his minutes, or even about starting. If Kerr at some point decides to cut downhis minutes or take him out of the starting lineup, Kuminga said he will be fine if he is told straight up and if there are good reasons for it.

Kuminga 的主要態度是，他不會太在意上場時間，甚至不會執著於是否先發。若某個時刻 Kerr 決定減少他的上場時間或把他從先發名單拿掉，Kuminga 表示只要有明確理由、而且教練坦白說明，他都能接受。

“I’m not sitting here thinking that I’m going to keep those minutes,” Kuming
a said. “I’ve gotta go out there and earn those minutes.

“That’s another thing I told Steve: If it’s not my night, tell me. I won’t g
et mad. I’ll be a good teammate, as I’ve always been. I’ll support. I’ll do
stuff that will help us win.”

「我不會覺得那些上場時間是理所當然的，」Kuminga 說道，「我得靠表現去爭取。」

「我也跟 Steve 說過，如果那天不是我的比賽，直接告訴我就好。我不會生氣。我會當個好隊友，就像一直以來那樣。我會支持大家，做對球隊有幫助的事。」

It’s a practical relationship, not quite kumbaya forever. But it’s honest andforged by past disconnection, which is better than current disconnection and false pretenses.

這是一段務實的關係，不是那種永遠和樂融融的類型。但它建立在誠實的基礎上，也是在過去疏離之後重建而成的，比起現在還在假裝親密的關係要健康得多。

For instance, Kerr has mentioned repeatedly that he’d love for Kuminga to pattern his game after that of Shawn Marion, a super-athletic defense-and-reboundingwing and three-time All-Star from the early 2000s.

舉例來說，Kerr 曾多次提到，他希望 Kuminga 能以 Shawn Marion 為榜樣——那位在 2000 年代初期以防守與籃板著稱、並三度入選全明星的超級運動型前鋒。

Your thoughts on the Marion comp, JK?

對於被拿來和 Marion 比較這件事，你怎麼看，JK？

“I’m just here to win and play basketball,” Kuminga said. “I’m not going to
go out there and play like somebody else. I’m just here to win and do what I’ve gotta do to help us win.”

「我只是想贏球、打球，」Kuminga 說道，「我不會去模仿別人。我只是想贏，做該做的事幫助球隊贏。」

That’s about as matter-of-fact as it gets. And after our conversation, I felt exactly what Kuminga said he’s feeling about his relationship with his coach: It might not always be laughs and hugs, but it’s always better to say the thingsyou feel so that nobody’s guessing and nobody’s making the wrong assumptions.

這句話再直接不過了。而在我們的對話之後，我也能明白 Kuminga 對他與教練關係的感受——或許不總是歡笑擁抱，但至少雙方都能開誠布公，讓彼此不用再猜測或誤會。

It’s healthier. It won’t always be perfect. It can get difficult. But when it’s working — as it is for Kuminga, Kerr, and the Warriors right now — you absolutely understand that it’s the only way worth trying.

這樣比較健康，不會永遠完美，也可能會有難關。但當一切順利運作時——就像現在 Kuminga、Kerr 和勇士之間的狀態——你會明白，這才是最值得堅持的方式。

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“ I just wanted him to push me more, harder. “

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10/30 18:20