Jonathan Kuminga at the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers (from Being's notes) & open thread

for his home team Democratic Republic of Congo

Being wrote up some notes on Kuminga’s play at the FIBA Qualifiers in the comments of an open thread. I am repeating them here for everyone’s attention.

Box score from Cameroon game on the first night

https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/african-qualifiers/game/2608/Congo-DR-Cameroon#|tab=boxscore

• JK played 29 min, with 18 pts, 4/15 FG, 4/8 from 2pt range, 0/7(!!) from 3pt range. 2 oreb, 6 tree, 1 last, 2 TO, 1 stl, 1 blk.

• So, he started the series 0/7 from 3pt range, then went 2/8 on the second night, then went 3/6 on the third night. At least he improved?

• Also, why is he taking SOOO many 3 pt shots? That's concerning.

• JK scored 53 of COD's 172 total points (31%)!

JK's highlight reel vs South Sudan

Stats: https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/african-qualifiers/game/2708/South-Sudan-Congo-DR#tab=boxscore

• He played 27 minutes with 16 pts, 6/12 FG, 4/4 on 2's, 2/8 on 3's, 2/4 on FT's. 2 DReb, 4(!!) Ast, 2 TOV, 1 Blk, 1 deflection

• The 3-pters were nice open pull-up 3's off a screen. I wish we could see the missed 3's to see what went wrong.

• His four 2-pt FG's were a push shot in the paint, transition dunk (off his own deflection), and two pull-up jumpers from the FT line (one was a lucky? bank).

• His first three of assists were actually really beautiful: The first two kicks off of stymied drives, and a nice vision find of the C in the paint who sealed his man.

• It looks like South Sudan defended him without fouling, while still packing the paint, so it's great to see him pull up short for push shots and wide open jumpers as well as kick the ball out to the open shooters rather than try and force something in the paint that wasn't there. I saw the latter all too often last year, so this one game does bode well.

COD vs. TUN full team highlights (not JK specific):

Box: https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/african-qualifiers/game/2808/Congo-DR-Tunisia#tab=boxscore

JK: 35 min, 19 pts, 5/9 (2/3 from 2, 3/6 from 3), 6/10 FT, 8(!!) Reb, 2 oreb, 8(!!) TO, 2 stl

Random observations from the highlight reel:

• First play: JK lost his man behind the screen - needed to anticipate the screen and go under, or speed up and go over.

• 4th play: stripped on a drive down the middle.

• Nice step back 3 around 1:30, defender got ankles broke.

• 2:19: JK cuts, and can't handle a poor pass, recovers, but is headed OOB and triple-teamed, throws it back in, but teammate can't handle the pass, TOV.

• 2:35: crazy push shot 3 pter after a long levitate.

• [UPDATE: Maybe TO isn't Turnovers. I don't see 8 turnovers in the play-by-play.]