MINNEAPOLIS — Jonathan Kuminga said Thursday that the Minnesota Timberwolves’ efforts to recruit him helped convince him to sign with the team on a two-year, $12.4 million contract despite having opportunities to earn more elsewhere.
Kuminga said Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, basketball operations assistant Alonzo Gee and stars Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball made personal efforts to bring him to Minnesota.
“Especially Ant, he called me every single time. He checked up on me, and he was a very, very genuine person. He didn’t have to do that,” Kuminga said during his introductory news conference at Target Center. “That just shows how much he wants to bring me over here.”
Kuminga said conversations with the Timberwolves players also extended beyond basketball, including discussions about raising young children and fishing.
“Them wanting me to be here, it felt real, and they were very genuine people, and these are people you could sit down with and have a conversation,” he said. “I think that’s when I felt the vibe.”
Minnesota pursued Kuminga after trading Julius Randle and Naz Reid as part of its blockbuster acquisition of Ball, which created a need at power forward. The team also explored a deal for LeBron James before committing its limited salary-cap space to Kuminga.
Connelly said the Timberwolves focused on being direct with Kuminga throughout the recruitment.
“Just kind of being ourselves and telling him how we envisioned our team helping him and how we envisioned him helping our team,” Connelly said. “Just trying to be honest and as clear and transparent as possible.”
The Warriors selected Kuminga with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft using a selection that originally belonged to Minnesota. Kuminga won a championship with Golden State as a rookie.
He started 46 games and averaged a career-high 16.1 points per game in the 2023-24 season. A right ankle injury limited him the following season, and he later fell out of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation before the Warriors traded him to the Atlanta Hawks.
Kuminga’s new contract includes a player option for the second season, giving him an opportunity to enter free agency again if he performs well and stays healthy.
Minnesota still faces questions about how its new-look roster will distribute offensive opportunities. Jaden McDaniels will also compete for regular touches, while Ayo Dosunmu provides scoring off the bench.
Edwards has led an offseason effort to build stronger connections within the team. Kuminga said he believes his athleticism and intensity can contribute on both ends of the court.
“I know what it takes to win, and I think just me including myself with those guys, I think we have a chance of going far,” Kuminga said. “I think just me bringing my mentality to what they have already, I think we can do such a great job out here.”