The drama involving forward Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors has yet to fully end.
In the aftermath of his trade to the Atlanta Hawks, ESPN published a story about how bad things went between him and the Dubs.
That piece included an anecdote about how Golden State head coach Steve Kerr wanted Kuminga to develop into a player with a role similar to Aaron Gordon and Shawn Marion. However, Kuminga eventually wanted a more premier function on the team, which meant more opportunities as the focal point on offense.
Having heard that part of the story, former second-overall NBA draft pick Evan Turner shared that he had the same experience, one that he said led him to a wild realization.
“I remember one time my coach said he viewed me as ‘Richard Jefferson’ and that was the first time I truly understood Latrell [Sprewell],” Turner wrote in a post on X on Wednesday.
Turner was referencing the infamous incident in which former Golden State star Latrell Sprewell choked then-Warriors head coach P.J. Carlesimo in 1997.
For what it’s worth, the former Ohio State Buckeyes star clarified that he didn’t mean to disrespect Jefferson.
“I’d trade the career I had for Richard Jefferson so it ain’t no shade. I just thought I was Kobe,” added Turner, who played for five teams during his playing career in the NBA.
Turner never turned into someone remotely close to what Kobe Bryant was in the NBA, but at least he didn’t pull a Sprewell.
