The Atlanta Hawks are on an 11-game winning streak, and that's due to contributions from several players on the team. One of those players is Jonathan Kuminga, who was surprisingly traded to the Hawks at the deadline. Before Kuminga even took the field for the Hawks, many of his teammates were excited about what he could bring to the team, and once he went out and had a strong three-game stretch, those teammates were validated.
Jalen Johnson has spoken highly of Kuminga since joining the team and in an interview with NBA's Jake Fisher he compared him to a dog ready to attack.
"His mentality...JK is like a puppy ready to be free," Johnson said. "You can tell by how he's working, how he's going about his days. He's ready to go. He's ready to do whatever it takes to win. And show that to the rest of the world."
When Kuminga was with the Golden State Warriors, it felt like he was on a leash and couldn't do much, which is why many believe Steve Kerr barely played him.
With the Hawks, it feels like Kuminga has more latitude to make mistakes without getting stretched, and that's only going to boost his confidence.
When he comes in he gives a boost to the second unit, moves the ball and creates contact in the paint for easy points. Quin Snyder has also given him minutes alongside Johnson, and it will be interesting to see how the pair continues to work as the season winds down.
If Kuminga proves to be an important part of the Hawks and fits in with the team for the remainder of the season, there is a chance they could decline his team option and sign him to a longer contract.
