The Golden State Warriors had to make a starting change against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday evening due to the injury absences of Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins.

After Curry and Wiggins started the season alongside Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis, it seemed reasonable to assume that Steve Kerr would find just two new starters for this game. Kerr added three new starters, going with Moses Moody, Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski alongside Green and Jackson-Davis, sending Jonathan Kuminga to the bench.

Via Shams Charania of ESPN: “The Warriors are moving F Jonathan Kuminga to the bench tonight against the Pelicans, sources tell me and @kendra__andrews. Intriguing development in a fourth season where no extension was completed for either party and the team has discussed how he can take the next step.”

Kuminga was about to enter restricted free agency this offseason and had a blunt statement regarding his benching via Danny Emerman of Bay Area News Group.

“It’s not my decision,” Kuminga said. “This is my fourth year. It’s not the first time such things have happened.”

“It’s his decision,” Kuminga added to Kerr via Emerman. “I’m not the coach. Once Steve has made his decision, he has made his decision. I’m not the coach.”

According to Emerman, Kuminga added that he is “not tripping” over his removal from the starting lineup. That said, Emerman added that the young forward’s camp is skeptical of Kerr’s commitment to making Kuminga a prominent part of Golden State’s offense.

Kuminga entered this game having averaged just 8.0 points in three games to start the season, making just 33.3 percent of his field goal attempts and 11.1 percent of his three-point attempts.

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