Jonathan Kuminga took flight against the New York Knicks on Sunday's Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs.

In an alley-oop play set up by teammate Gabe Vincent in the first quarter, the Atlanta Hawks power forward towered over two Knicks defenders, rising so high that he nearly went over the rim for a dunk.

The play quickly went viral on social media for Kuminga's athleticism. An X update from Hoop Central on April 28 clipped the moment for fans.

While the Hawks suffered a blowout road loss, trailing by 29 points, this moment stood out as a highlight in Game 5.

Kuminga finished the game with a solid 13 points, one assist, and four rebounds in 17 minutes.

The Hawks acquired Jonathan Kuminga at the midseason trade deadline after things fell apart with the Golden State Warriors.

Fast forward to this year's road to the playoffs, and the Warriors were eliminated in the play-in tournament, while Kuminga has been one of the leaders for the Hawks in the first round.

Kuminga took charge in Games 2 and 3 against the Knicks, scoring 19 and 21 points on 7 of 12 and 9 of 14 shooting, respectively.

While it is clear that his scoring is still inconsistent, with eight and ten points in Games 1 and 4, Kuminga has always been able to make an impact on the court, something he consistently struggled to establish during his time in the Bay Area.

He also made a game-winning steal that allowed the clock to expire and the Hawks to win 109-108 in Game 3.

Although Steve Kerr and the Warriors always believed the 23-year-old had untapped potential, they did not expect him to showcase it so quickly, especially against a heavyweight like the Knicks.

However, it is worth noting that Kuminga also reflected on his time with the Warriors during this series, specifically crediting mentor Draymond Green's guidance.

Jonathan Kuminga Praised Former Teammate Draymond Green's Valuable Assistance

Warriors legend Draymond Green was Kuminga's biggest supporter during his time in the Bay Area, and the 23-year-old is not one to forget that.

After Game 2 against the Knicks, where Kuminga’s stellar defensive performance was on display, the 6'7" power forward took to his platform to credit the 2017 DPOY and eight-time All-Defensive selection for guiding him down the right path.

"I'm going to give my praise to Draymond," Kuminga said. "Growing up around him, watching him ... I'd seen him do that so many times. He's one of the best at doing things like that."

Green had taken Kuminga under his wing when he was just 19 years old, and praised the young PF in return.

"Number one, I just want to say thank you to the young fella," Green said on 'The Draymond Green Show.'

"And to get praise like that from a young guy that you just poured into, and I still pour into, that relationship ain't changed. Love JK to death. That's my young fella. To see him out there doing what he's doing defensively, playing his role on the offensive end, it's a beautiful sight to see." Green added.

While the Hawks are now down 3-2 in the series, it is clear that Kuminga has shown that he is not just a rotational player, but someone the team can rely on both offensively and defensively.

So, do you think Jonathan Kuminga can help the Hawks turn things around at home to take the series to Game 7? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Surjo Roy