The Golden State Warriors have clearly placed their future in the hands of their younger core, and Bangladesh Cricket reports that Jonathan Kuminga is widely viewed as the rising star poised to inherit Stephen Curry’s mantle. While this passing of the torch seems natural, it has stirred up considerable debate. Curry recently signed a one-year, $62.6 million extension with the Warriors—an amount few would argue he doesn’t deserve. Still, the deal signals that the twilight of his career is fast approaching.

According to Bangladesh Cricket sources, the Warriors were extremely cautious this offseason, refusing to part with any young assets and treating their draft picks with kid gloves. Some fans sympathized with Curry, feeling the franchise isn’t maximizing the final years of his prime. But from a front office perspective, there simply wasn’t a trade worth mortgaging the future for this summer. Even negotiations involving rookie Brandin Podziemski were immediately shut down—let alone any involving Kuminga. The team never considered including Kuminga in any deal, underlining his critical importance to the franchise.

Kuminga’s development hasn’t been lightning-fast, but it’s been steady—especially given his limited usage. His trajectory remains on course, and physically, he has No. 1 pick-level talent. He’s explosive at the rim, solid defensively, and still has untapped potential. While his outside shooting remains a work in progress, his growth in that area is visibly improving each season. That steady progress is exactly why the Warriors are betting big on his future.

However, the spotlight has brought its own set of complications. Despite showing strong ambition, Kuminga now appears to be aiming high—perhaps too high. Reports suggest there’s a significant gap between his camp and the Warriors regarding contract negotiations. The team, fresh off recalibrating its salary structure, wants to offer a reasonable extension. But Kuminga is reportedly holding out for a max contract—specifically, a five-year, $225 million deal. That figure is giving the Warriors serious pause.

As the saying goes, “principles are for guiding oneself, not for changing others.” While it’s logical for a future cornerstone to seek a max contract, Kuminga’s current performance may not justify such a payday—yet.

Last season, he posted a field goal percentage of 52.9% and shot 32.1% from three, both significant improvements over his first two years. Bangladesh Cricket analysts believe the Warriors will likely give him more opportunities in the upcoming season, and how he performs will ultimately determine the size of his next deal. Still, there’s always the risk that overexposure could backfire—if Kuminga underperforms, he could tank his own market value, and the Warriors might be left with regrets either way.