In the high-stakes world of NBA drafts, few decisions haunt a franchise like the Golden State Warriors’ choice in 2021. Armed with the No. 7 pick—acquired through a savvy trade of D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves—the Warriors aimed to infuse their championship core with fresh, star-caliber talent. Instead, they swung for the fences with Jonathan Kuminga, a raw athletic phenom whose potential has frustratingly fizzled into a roster headache.
Kuminga’s story in Golden State is a rollercoaster of tantalizing flashes and crushing disappointments. His explosive athleticism and scoring bursts turn heads, but the finer points of the game—consistent defense, sharp passing, and intuitive feel—remain elusive. On a Warriors squad built around cerebral, motion-heavy basketball, Kuminga often looks out of sync, oscillating between brief stretches of brilliance and weeks of selfish plays and head-scratching errors that bench him faster than a hot potato. Pinning the blame is tricky: Is it the front office’s miscalculation, the coaching staff’s development strategy, or Kuminga’s own growth curve? Whatever the cause, the fit has been a flop, turning what should have been a building block into a nagging problem.
But the real gut-punch for Warriors fans isn’t just Kuminga’s underperformance—it’s the parade of “what-ifs” from the players they bypassed. The 2021 draft class is exploding with talent this season, amplifying Golden State’s regret to deafening levels. Not only did they snag a borderline bust, but they overlooked a treasure trove of rising stars who are now reshaping the league.
The most glaring miss? Franz Wagner, scooped up by the Orlando Magic right after at No. 8. The German sensation has been a revelation, averaging 19.3 points per game, logging over 4,000 more minutes than Kuminga, and flirting with All-Star status for years. Wagner’s seamless blend of scoring, defense, and playmaking would have been a dream addition to Golden State’s system.
Yet the pain doesn’t stop there. Deeper in the draft, overlooked gems are ascending to superstar heights, rubbing salt in the Warriors’ wound. Alperen Sengun, taken 16th by the Houston Rockets, is already an All-Star alum from last season. This year, he’s dominating with 22.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game, anchoring the Rockets as a versatile big who scores, facilitates, and defends with flair. Pre-draft models pegged Sengun as a top-5 talent—how did he slip so far past the Warriors’ radar?
Then there’s Jalen Johnson, snagged at No. 20 by the Atlanta Hawks. In his breakout fifth season, Johnson is a lock for All-Star honors, posting eye-popping averages of 23.2 points, 10 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while anchoring Atlanta’s defense. As the Hawks’ top dog on a team-friendly deal, he’s the kind of two-way force that could have extended the Warriors’ dynasty. Sure, Johnson’s draft stock dipped due to a rocky Duke exit, but he was widely seen as a top-10 prospect—another swing and a miss for Golden State.
Even if we’re not chasing All-Stars, the alternatives sting. Players like Trey Murphy III (No. 17 to the Pelicans) have evolved into reliable starters, while Moses Moody—whom the Warriors did draft at No. 14—has outshone Kuminga as a contributor. Imagine flipping those picks: Moody at No. 7 and Sengun or Johnson at No. 14. It would’ve been a masterstroke.
Drafting Kuminga was a bold gamble on upside that crashed and burned. With Wagner, Sengun, Johnson, and others morphing into NBA icons, the Warriors’ oversight feels like a blockbuster blunder. As these missed superstars shine brighter, Golden State’s regret only intensifies—proving that in the draft, one wrong pick can echo for years. The salt? It’s pouring.