Kendrick Perkins Blasts Steve Kerr Over Warriors’ Youth Crisis Amid Kuminga Free Agency Drama
In a scorching takedown that set NBA circles ablaze, former NBA champion-turned-analyst Kendrick Perkins pulled no punches as he criticized Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr for what he called a “gross failure to develop and trust young talent.” Perkins’ comments came amid the swelling drama surrounding rising star Jonathan Kuminga, who is reportedly exploring free agency options after a season riddled with inconsistent minutes and unclear expectations.
“This ain’t 2015 anymore,” Perkins said in an impassioned segment on NBA Today. “You can’t keep riding the same playbook when the league is evolving and your young core is begging for a shot. Steve Kerr might be a great coach — no one’s disputing that — but his inability to nurture guys like Kuminga, Moody, and Wiseman has been a straight-up organizational disaster.”
Kuminga, the 22-year-old Congolese forward with explosive athleticism and two-way potential, was expected to be a cornerstone in the Warriors’ inevitable post-Curry transition. Instead, he found himself shackled to the bench for large stretches of the season, often playing behind aging veterans like Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins. Multiple sources close to the organization have suggested that Kuminga’s camp has grown frustrated with the lack of a defined role, prompting speculation about his potential departure.
“He’s the best athlete on that roster and half the time he’s watching games from the sidelines like a damn intern,” Perkins continued. “You don’t build dynasties by ignoring the future. You build ‘em by integrating it.”
Perkins even referenced internal Warriors friction, claiming that front office executives had clashed with Kerr over his “win-now stubbornness,” which some believe stunted the growth of Golden State’s so-called “bridge players.” While Moses Moody has shown flashes of 3-and-D brilliance, and James Wiseman — now traded — was once billed as the team’s big man of the future, Kerr’s rotations often prioritized veterans, even during rebuilding stretches.
Kerr has responded in past pressers with a diplomatic tone, emphasizing the complexity of player development in a championship-driven environment. “It’s about readiness and fit,” he told reporters last spring. “Guys earn their minutes, and we’re trying to win games. That’s always the balance.”
But Perkins wasn’t buying it.
“You don’t ‘earn’ minutes if you’re not given the space to make mistakes,” he said. “That’s what player development is about. The Warriors had a golden ticket with Kuminga, and they just might let him walk.”
As free agency looms, Kuminga’s future remains uncertain. Rumors suggest that teams like the Orlando Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder have shown interest in offering him a central role — and a fresh start. If the Warriors lose Kuminga, it won’t just be a roster change — it’ll be a symbolic rupture in their attempt to thread the needle between title contention and future viability.
And as Perkins concluded: “If Steve Kerr can’t evolve, the Warriors won’t either.”
