Kuminga official debut: Never played with a point guard as good as LaMelo at passing, hopes to stay with Timberwolves long-term

On September 11, Beijing time, the Timberwolves held a press conference for new addition Jonathan·Kuminga, accompanied by Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly. The two spoke with the media for about 20 minutes. Below is the full transcript of Connelly and Kuminga's remarks, covering Kuminga's free agency recruitment process, how he fits into the current roster, and why he chose the Timberwolves over other teams, including the Lakers, who offered more money.

On Kuminga's entire thought process behind choosing Minnesota

Kuminga: Good morning, everyone. The entire recruitment process had its ups and downs. Looking back, this is one of the best decisions I've ever made. I looked at this team's roster, these young players, what they've accomplished in the past, and what they want to achieve in the future. I feel I fit perfectly into this team's culture. I just want to win as much as possible and be in a competitive environment that suits me.

At that time, I sat down with my team and thought about where my next stop should be and why I chose here. Our core idea was: we want to win, we want to help the team win. That's the reason I made this decision.

On how his playing style fits the team's lineup

Kuminga: I believe my playing style, mentality, and almost every aspect fit this team very well. Whatever they ask me to do, they can put me in any position: running the floor, setting screens, defending, playing at a fast pace. No matter what the task, I believe once I'm here, I can become one of the best defenders on the team. I think the fit is very high.

On the team's efforts in recruiting Kuminga

Connelly: The key was honesty and sincerity. He's been winning for the past five years, so he has high expectations for winning, and so do we. He knows us well, and he's even played against us in the playoffs. Despite his young age, he has already achieved a lot. He's only 23 years old, and his best basketball is still ahead of him.

You have to show a player the team's blueprint, but not just sweet-talk them into signing. Fortunately, we've known his agent for a long time and have worked with him on other players before, which helped a lot. Aaron (Turner) was very supportive. Later, Aaron and I, along with Aronzy Gueye, went to meet with Kuminga and his group in person, having an open conversation about what we could achieve together.

There were a few weeks of quiet after that. At the time, we weren't entirely confident or overly optimistic. We just stayed true to ourselves, told him how we envisioned the team helping him and what he could bring to the team. Throughout the process, we tried to be as honest, clear, and transparent as possible.

Why Kuminga believes he fits the Timberwolves' team culture

Kuminga: Looking back at my playing style and mindset, I've watched a lot of Timberwolves games and played against them many times. This team has built a winning culture over time, and the roster is still young: Anthony is still young, LaMelo is young, Jaden, Rudy, all of them.

They have clear goals every day, they play with patience, and I identify with that mentality. They crave victory. I've been in the league for a few years, I know what it feels like to win, and I understand what it takes to win. If I join them, we have a chance to go far. Blending my game mindset with this existing group, I believe we can perform at a high level.

Kuminga's communication with Coach Finch and management about his role

Kuminga: We didn't talk too much. In the few conversations we had, they told me to come here and be myself, grab rebounds, and play elite defense. As long as I do those two things, other opportunities will naturally come. As long as I focus on rebounding and defense, it will help the team and also benefit me.

On the prospect of Kuminga playing alongside LaMelo Ball

Connelly: Among all the elite athletes in the league, Jonathan is at the very top. He will immediately become one of our best cutters, with a natural instinct for finding open space. He brings a championship pedigree and has accomplished what we want to achieve.

LaMelo is one of the best playmakers in the league. When you combine his ability to find open spots and time his cuts perfectly, especially in transition, there aren't many players in the league who can match Jonathan. I believe the two can elevate each other, and of course, he can also use his court vision to help the entire team.

He's so young, yet he's already experienced a lot in the NBA. We can learn a lot from him. I look forward to seeing him help the team, and I hope we can help him in return.

Defense is the Timberwolves' team identity

Kuminga: Coming here, especially on the defensive end, I consider myself one of the top defenders in the league. We have elite defenders like Jaden on the team, and I can learn a lot from him. Anthony is also a good defender, and Rudy too. Training with these teammates every day will help me fill many gaps in my defense. Ayo is also a top defender.

Competing and practicing against such high-level players almost every day, I can learn a lot of defensive techniques I didn't know before. Looking at this group, blending in with them. They will push me and help me day in and day out, especially on defense. I believe if we play solid defense, our offense will follow, and scoring will become easier. Coach Finch and I talked, and the priority is to play good defense; the rest will open up. I'm really looking forward to it.

What Kuminga is most excited about playing alongside LaMelo Ball

Kuminga: His passing ability. I watched his training yesterday and saw some of his moves in person. His passing is unbelievable. Throughout my career, I've played with many point guards, but I've never seen a passer as good as LaMelo. I'm very excited, really looking forward to it.

Kuminga's expectations playing alongside Rudy Gobert

Kuminga: On defense, I can let loose and be myself, with full defensive aggression, because I know I have a shot-blocking and rim-protecting expert behind me. Rudy's ability speaks for itself, having won Defensive Player of the Year multiple times. I'll learn from his defensive style, and he'll get to know my defensive habits. Once we're on the court together, defense will become much easier. We'll communicate about how to match up against different opponents. He can see details on the court that I might miss and guide me. I'm really looking forward to learning from him.

Timberwolves filling the power forward vacancy

Connelly: That's right, we lost two excellent power forwards in Naz Reid and Julius Randle, and we paid a heavy price to acquire LaMelo. We originally had some good alternatives within the team.

But regarding Jonathan, honestly, at the start of the recruitment process, we weren't very hopeful. He would be the perfect fit: not only in terms of age and athleticism, but also as a two-way player with a lot of winning experience. He's played in 40 playoff games with a playoff winning percentage close to 60%, which was crucial for us.

Fortunately, our vision aligned with Aaron, Jonathan, and his team. Our roster is very versatile, and the coaching staff is among the best in the league; they don't rigidly confine players to one or two positions. He's a forward who can play both bigger and smaller roles.

Overall, his addition fits us perfectly. His speed and ability to drive can create advantages on offense. Few players in the league are better than Jonathan at initiating a drive after one dribble. We're fortunate to have signed Jonathan, and I'm looking forward to seeing what this team looks like in a month.

Kuminga's thoughts on entering another contract year

Kuminga: It's not about proving anything to anyone. I just want to be a winner, contribute every day, and give my all for the team, the city, and the fans. I don't need to prove anything specifically. As long as I show up every day, be a winning player, a good teammate, and a good person, everything will fall into place.

I don't need to do things I've never done before. That's not my goal. My goal is to win, plain and simple.

Will the Timberwolves be a long-term home for Kuminga?

Kuminga: I really hope to stay here long-term. But I'm not going to predict the future. Fate will take its course. My job is to come here, do my work every day, and let things happen naturally.

Connelly's mindset during the quiet period of recruitment

Connelly: We were very hopeful at that time. When you target a player, and during the recruitment process—Jonathan and his team probably did their background checks too—we reached out to many people, asking his former teammates and coaches. Everyone had the same high opinion of Jonathan: his teammates all thought highly of him, and his work ethic was outstanding. These are qualities that are hard to teach later on.

First, we were impressed by his talent, and after getting to know him as a person, we became even more interested. Then there was a period when we lost contact, which made us feel a bit disappointed. We were full of hope that Jonathan and his team felt the same way. This signing feels like it was meant to be, the right place and right time.

This team needs everything he brings both on and off the court. It's going to be very interesting. From our first meeting, we told him that enjoying basketball and staying happy is the most important thing. He improves every year and keeps winning. His first five seasons have been fantastic, and we hope the sixth season will be his best yet.

How much did the Timberwolves' strong recruitment efforts weigh in Kuminga's decision?

Kuminga: I talk to LaMelo and Anthony almost every day, especially Anthony. He calls me often, asks how I'm doing, and is very sincere. He didn't have to do that, but it shows how much he wants me here.

Tim and Aronzy even flew to Miami to meet me, and we had a great conversation. We didn't just talk about basketball; we also talked about family, life, and many unexpected topics, like fishing. It felt more like a genuine desire for me to join rather than just a recruitment pitch.

They are sincere people and can sit down for deep conversations. Many people can't sit still and have those kinds of talks. When I talked to Anthony on the phone, I felt that atmosphere. After talking to Aronzy, Tim, and others, making the decision became very simple.

How Kuminga fits into the Timberwolves' existing roster in terms of age and career stage

Connelly: We will challenge these players to step up, and I believe they are ready. This offseason, we lost several veterans: Mike Conley, Kyle, Joe Ingles. We re-evaluated the roster structure.

These players are young, but their game experience is far from immature. We will ask them to take on more responsibility. The word "leader" is overused, but they are essentially the veterans on this team now. Even though they are only 23, 24, 25 years old, they have been through tough, high-stakes games. Jonathan is ready, and so are Anthony, LaMelo, and Jaden.

Many times, the leader of the team is right there in the mirror, not some older guy in the locker room. So even though our roster is relatively young—we might have one of the youngest starting lineups in the West—we are not lacking in game experience. Not many teams have the playoff resumes that Jonathan, Anthony, and Jaden have. Their time has come; they are mature enough and need to shoulder more of the team's daily responsibilities.

Kuminga's thoughts on Timberwolves fans

Kuminga: I've played here many times and felt the crowd. The Timberwolves have one of the best fan bases in the NBA. Fans are passionate at every game. I'm really looking forward to it. I can't wait.

Why Kuminga chose the Timberwolves over other teams offering more money

Kuminga: When it comes to my family, I leave everything to fate. I prayed about it, asked for guidance to help me make the best choice, and I believe this is the best decision.

I wanted to join a team with a winning culture, and among all the options, the Timberwolves' winning culture is top-tier. Like I said before, I talked to many people within the organization—management, coaches, players—and the atmosphere is exactly what I was looking for. It made my decision very easy, so I chose to be here.