بعد صيف طويل من الشد والجذب بين غولدن ستايت ووريرز وجوناثان كومينجا، طويت صفحة المفاوضات أخيراً مع توقيع اللاعب عقداً جديداً لمدة عامين بقيمة تصل إلى 46.5 مليون دولار. العقد أنهى حالة الجمود التي استمرت أكثر من ثلاثة أشهر، وأعاد الاستقرار النسبي لتشكيلة الفريق مع اقتراب انطلاق موسم 2025-2026 من الدوري الأمريكي لكرة السلة للمحترفين (NBA).
• كوري: لا أستمع إلى الوكلاء
الأزمة لم تكن مجرد خلاف مالي أو فني، بل امتدت إلى أبعاد إعلامية بعد أن لجأ وكيل كومينجا، آرون تورنر، إلى جولات صحفية كشف خلالها تفاصيل المفاوضات. هذا النهج أثار استياء ستيفن كوري، الذي أكد خلال يوم الإعلام أن ثقته تستند إلى ما يسمعه مباشرة من زميله، قائلاً: «أنا أستمع فقط إلى زميلي. لا أستمع إلى الوكلاء أو أي طرف يتحدث بالنيابة. بالنسبة لي، أسمع ذلك من كومينجانفسه».
ونقل كوري عن اللاعب البالغ 22 عاماً التزامه بالعمل فور عودته، نافياً أن يكون الأخير قد أراد أن يكون عبئاً على الفريق.
الخلاف خرج إلى العلن بعد أن قرر وكيل كومينجا، آرون تورنر، الإدلاء بسلسلة تصريحات إعلامية تناولت تفاصيل المفاوضات، في خطوة أثارت استياء إدارة ووريرز وأزعجت بعض اللاعبين المخضرمين في الفريق.
تصريحات كوري أوضحت بجلاء امتعاضه من تدخل الوكيل في المشهد العلني، وهو ما يتقاطع مع انتقاده السابق لتنامي ظاهرة وكلاء اللاعبين الذين يستخدمون الإعلام كمنصة ضغط تفاوضي. ومع ذلك، حرص قائد ووريرز على نقل رسالة مطمئنة من كومينجا نفسه، الذي أكد له التزامه بالعمل مع الفريق عند بدء الموسم.
هذه الظاهرة لا تقتصر على ووريرز وحدهم؛ ففي فيلادلفيا، اتخذ وكيل كوينتن غرايمز مساراً مماثلاً بكشف تفاصيل خلافه مع إدارة فيلادلفيا سفنتي سيكسرز حول عقد موكله. وهو ما يعكس اتجاهاً متنامياً لوكلاء يفضلون مخاطبة الإعلام للضغط في المفاوضات، الأمر الذي يثير حرجاً للأندية ويضع اللاعبين تحت مجهر الرأي العام.
رسالة كوري جاءت واضحة، اللاعبون هم مصدر الحقيقة داخل غرف الملابس، وأي حديث خارجي من الوكلاء قد يزيد من حدة التوتر بدل أن يسهم في الحل.
• كير: الحوار أساس الانسجام
في المقابل، أوضح المدرب ستيف كير أن أولويته بمجرد وصول كومينجا إلى سان فرانسيسكو ستكون عقد جلسة مباشرة معه لضبط التوقعات. وقال كير: «في صميم أي ثقافة ناجحة للفريق هناك تواصل. سنجلس وجهاً لوجه، وهذا سيكون أهم شيء».
وأشار كير إلى أن دور كومينجا سيُبنى على الالتزام الدفاعي والركض في الملعب، مع الاعتراف بوجود لحظات خلال الموسم سيُعتمد فيها على اللاعب هجومياً: «لا شك أن هناك أوقاتاً سنضطر فيها لإعطائه الكرة وتشغيل الهجوم عبره».
وأكد كير أن التوازن بين ما يحتاجه الفريق وما يرغب كومينجا في تقديمه ظل نقطة خلاف، لكنه شدد على وجود مساحة حقيقية له في التشكيلة، خصوصاً بصفته جناحاً رياضياً يفتقده ووريرز في خياراته الأخرى.
• إدارة النادي: لا نية للتفريط
من جانبه، أوضح المدير العام مايك دنليفي أن المفاوضات كانت طبيعية رغم طولها، وأن النادي راضٍ عن صيغة العقد الحالية: «لا أرى حاجة حالياً لبحث خيار التبادل. نعتقد أن لدينا لاعباً يمكن أن يكون مؤثراً، والعقد يخدم الطرفين».
• عملاق بوسطن ينضم
إلى جانب تسوية وضع كومينجا، أضاف ووريرز عنصراً مخضرماً بتعاقده مع أل هورفورد (39 عاماً) بعد مسيرة ناجحة في بوسطن، إلى جانب التوقيع مع سيث كوري. هورفورد وصف قراره بمغادرة سيلتيكس بالصعب، لكنه اعتبر اللعب بجوار ستيفن كوري وجيمي باتلر ودرايموند غرين، وتحت قيادة كير، فرصة استثنائية لمطاردة لقب جديد: «إذا كان هناك مكان واحد قد يجعلني أترك بوسطن، فهو هذا».
• ترتيب الأوراق
بانتهاء أزمة كومينجا وضم أسماء جديدة، يجد غولدن ستايت نفسه وقد أعاد ترتيب أوراقه استعداداً لموسم يطمح فيه للعودة إلى دائرة المنافسة. لكن الأنظار ستظل معلقة على كيفية توظيف كومينجا بين طموحاته الفردية ومتطلبات الفريق، في ظل رسالة واضحة من كوري وكير معاً بأن الالتزام والتواصل هما الأساس لضمان نجاح التجربة.
أزمة كومينجا تكشف المعركة الخفية..
ستيفن كوري يعلن الحرب على وكلاء اللاعبين في NBA
2 أكتوبر 2025 - 19:53
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آخر تحديث 2 أكتوبر 2025 - 19:53
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عبدالعزيز النهدي (جدة) abdulazizNahdi@
After a long summer of back-and-forth between the Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga, the negotiation chapter has finally closed with the player signing a new two-year contract worth up to $46.5 million. The contract ended a stalemate that lasted more than three months and restored relative stability to the team's roster as the start of the 2025-2026 NBA season approaches.
• Curry: I don’t listen to agents
The crisis was not just a financial or technical disagreement; it extended to media dimensions after Kuminga's agent, Aaron Turner, resorted to media rounds revealing details of the negotiations. This approach irritated Stephen Curry, who confirmed during media day that his trust is based on what he hears directly from his teammate, saying: "I only listen to my teammate. I don’t listen to agents or anyone speaking on their behalf. For me, I hear it from Kuminga himself."
Curry relayed that the 22-year-old player is committed to working as soon as he returns, denying that the latter wanted to be a burden on the team.
The disagreement became public after Kuminga's agent, Aaron Turner, decided to make a series of media statements discussing the details of the negotiations, a move that displeased the Warriors' management and annoyed some veteran players on the team.
Curry's statements clearly expressed his displeasure with the agent's interference in the public scene, which aligns with his previous criticism of the growing phenomenon of player agents using the media as a negotiating pressure platform. However, the Warriors' captain was keen to convey a reassuring message from Kuminga himself, who confirmed to him his commitment to work with the team at the start of the season.
This phenomenon is not limited to the Warriors alone; in Philadelphia, Quentin Grimes' agent took a similar path by revealing details of his disagreement with the Philadelphia 76ers management regarding his client's contract. This reflects a growing trend among agents who prefer to address the media to exert pressure in negotiations, which creates embarrassment for clubs and places players under public scrutiny.
Curry's message was clear: players are the source of truth inside the locker room, and any external talk from agents may increase tension rather than contribute to a solution.
• Kerr: Dialogue is the foundation of harmony
On the other hand, coach Steve Kerr clarified that his priority upon Kuminga's arrival in San Francisco will be to hold a direct meeting with him to set expectations. Kerr said: "At the core of any successful team culture is communication. We will sit face-to-face, and that will be the most important thing."
Kerr indicated that Kuminga's role will be built on defensive commitment and running the floor, while acknowledging that there will be moments during the season when the team will rely on the player offensively: "There’s no doubt there will be times when we have to give him the ball and run the offense through him."
Kerr confirmed that the balance between what the team needs and what Kuminga wants to contribute has remained a point of contention, but he emphasized that there is real space for him in the lineup, especially as an athletic wing that the Warriors lack in their other options.
• Club management: No intention to let go
For his part, general manager Mike Dunleavy clarified that the negotiations were normal despite their length, and that the club is satisfied with the current contract structure: "I don’t see a need right now to explore a trade option. We believe we have a player who can be impactful, and the contract serves both parties."
• Boston giant joins
Alongside settling Kuminga's situation, the Warriors added a veteran element by signing Al Horford (39 years old) after a successful career in Boston, in addition to signing Seth Curry. Horford described his decision to leave the Celtics as difficult, but he considered playing alongside Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, under Kerr's leadership, an exceptional opportunity to chase a new title: "If there’s one place that would make me leave Boston, it’s this."
• Reorganizing the cards
With Kuminga's crisis resolved and new names added, Golden State finds itself having reorganized its cards in preparation for a season in which it aspires to return to the competitive circle. However, eyes will remain fixed on how to utilize Kuminga between his individual ambitions and the team's requirements, under a clear message from both Curry and Kerr that commitment and communication are the foundation for ensuring the success of the experience.
• Curry: I don’t listen to agents
The crisis was not just a financial or technical disagreement; it extended to media dimensions after Kuminga's agent, Aaron Turner, resorted to media rounds revealing details of the negotiations. This approach irritated Stephen Curry, who confirmed during media day that his trust is based on what he hears directly from his teammate, saying: "I only listen to my teammate. I don’t listen to agents or anyone speaking on their behalf. For me, I hear it from Kuminga himself."
Curry relayed that the 22-year-old player is committed to working as soon as he returns, denying that the latter wanted to be a burden on the team.
The disagreement became public after Kuminga's agent, Aaron Turner, decided to make a series of media statements discussing the details of the negotiations, a move that displeased the Warriors' management and annoyed some veteran players on the team.
Curry's statements clearly expressed his displeasure with the agent's interference in the public scene, which aligns with his previous criticism of the growing phenomenon of player agents using the media as a negotiating pressure platform. However, the Warriors' captain was keen to convey a reassuring message from Kuminga himself, who confirmed to him his commitment to work with the team at the start of the season.
This phenomenon is not limited to the Warriors alone; in Philadelphia, Quentin Grimes' agent took a similar path by revealing details of his disagreement with the Philadelphia 76ers management regarding his client's contract. This reflects a growing trend among agents who prefer to address the media to exert pressure in negotiations, which creates embarrassment for clubs and places players under public scrutiny.
Curry's message was clear: players are the source of truth inside the locker room, and any external talk from agents may increase tension rather than contribute to a solution.
• Kerr: Dialogue is the foundation of harmony
On the other hand, coach Steve Kerr clarified that his priority upon Kuminga's arrival in San Francisco will be to hold a direct meeting with him to set expectations. Kerr said: "At the core of any successful team culture is communication. We will sit face-to-face, and that will be the most important thing."
Kerr indicated that Kuminga's role will be built on defensive commitment and running the floor, while acknowledging that there will be moments during the season when the team will rely on the player offensively: "There’s no doubt there will be times when we have to give him the ball and run the offense through him."
Kerr confirmed that the balance between what the team needs and what Kuminga wants to contribute has remained a point of contention, but he emphasized that there is real space for him in the lineup, especially as an athletic wing that the Warriors lack in their other options.
• Club management: No intention to let go
For his part, general manager Mike Dunleavy clarified that the negotiations were normal despite their length, and that the club is satisfied with the current contract structure: "I don’t see a need right now to explore a trade option. We believe we have a player who can be impactful, and the contract serves both parties."
• Boston giant joins
Alongside settling Kuminga's situation, the Warriors added a veteran element by signing Al Horford (39 years old) after a successful career in Boston, in addition to signing Seth Curry. Horford described his decision to leave the Celtics as difficult, but he considered playing alongside Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, under Kerr's leadership, an exceptional opportunity to chase a new title: "If there’s one place that would make me leave Boston, it’s this."
• Reorganizing the cards
With Kuminga's crisis resolved and new names added, Golden State finds itself having reorganized its cards in preparation for a season in which it aspires to return to the competitive circle. However, eyes will remain fixed on how to utilize Kuminga between his individual ambitions and the team's requirements, under a clear message from both Curry and Kerr that commitment and communication are the foundation for ensuring the success of the experience.