Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Pedro Salcas
Jonathan Kuminga comes from a basketball-loving family in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Born in Goma, the Minnesota Timberwolves forward grew up in a household where both of his parents played basketball, and his father introduced Jonathan and his siblings to the game at an early age.
Kuminga is one of four children. His best-known sibling is his older brother, Joel Ntambwe, who also pursued professional basketball, while his younger siblings are named Alex and Flory. Although Jonathan has become an internationally recognized NBA player, he has kept many details about his parents and romantic life private.
Who Is Jonathan Kuminga’s Girlfriend?
Jonathan Kuminga does not have a publicly confirmed girlfriend or partner.
Despite years in the NBA spotlight, Kuminga has been remarkably private about his romantic life. He rarely discusses dating in interviews and primarily uses his public platforms to share basketball, training, travel and activities connected to his native Democratic Republic of the Congo.
There have occasionally been rumors and social media speculation connecting him with different women, but no relationship has been confirmed through Kuminga himself or a reliable major-media source.
As of now, there is no credible public evidence that Jonathan Kuminga is married, engaged or in a publicly confirmed relationship.
Does Jonathan Kuminga Have Children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Jonathan Kuminga has children.
Kuminga has not announced the birth of a son or daughter, and reputable reporting about his personal life does not identify him as a father.
As of now, Jonathan Kuminga is not publicly known to have any children.
Who Are Jonathan Kuminga’s Parents?
Jonathan Kuminga was raised by Congolese parents who both had backgrounds in basketball. Their influence was one of the main reasons basketball became part of his life at such an early age.
While some biography websites circulate specific names for Kuminga’s father and mother, those names have not been consistently established by authoritative NBA or major-media reporting. For accuracy, it is better not to present those names as confirmed facts.
What is firmly established is that both of Kuminga’s parents played basketball, remained supportive of his career and eventually relocated to the United States.
Jonathan Kuminga’s Father
Jonathan Kuminga’s father was a basketball player in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and introduced his children to the sport.
Kuminga has described his father as an athletic player and particularly good shooter. Although his father possessed basketball talent, he did not have access to the level of coaching and development that later became available to Jonathan.
That experience influenced Kuminga’s perspective on his own opportunities. He has frequently discussed how much untapped basketball talent exists in Congo and how access to facilities, coaching and organized development can determine whether gifted young players receive opportunities.
Jonathan’s older brother Joel Ntambwe has also explained that their father introduced all four children to basketball.
Basketball therefore became part of family life long before Jonathan became an NBA prospect.
Jonathan Kuminga’s Mother
Jonathan Kuminga’s mother has remained one of the most important people in his life.
Kuminga has described her affectionately as an incredibly supportive mother and credited her love and discipline with helping him reach professional basketball.
His mother is also deeply religious. In a more recent interview, Kuminga revealed that she serves as a pastor and has a church in Tampa, Florida.
Kuminga said his parents were living in Orlando, with his mother regularly traveling to Tampa for church. His Christian faith remains closely connected to the religious environment in which he was raised.
Jonathan has said that he calls his family for guidance during difficult periods and relies on his parents to help him maintain perspective when dealing with pressure in professional basketball.
Why Did Jonathan Kuminga Leave His Parents at 13?
One of the most important moments in Jonathan Kuminga’s life came in 2016 when he left the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the United States to pursue basketball.
Kuminga was only around 13 years old.
His parents accompanied him to the airport before he embarked on the journey without them. Kuminga has recalled feeling nervous when he realized that he would have to continue the journey independently.
His older brother Joel had already moved to the United States approximately six months earlier to pursue his own basketball career, making him Jonathan’s main family connection in America.
The brothers initially lived far apart and sometimes went months without seeing each other. They maintained their relationship through phone calls and messages.
Jonathan spent several years away from his parents while progressing through American prep basketball and later the NBA G League.
In an emotional 2020 essay, Kuminga said he had not seen his parents for years after leaving Congo and described how much he missed them. He also credited the separation with giving him a strong sense of focus and purpose.
Who Are Jonathan Kuminga’s Siblings?
Jonathan Kuminga has three siblings: an older brother named Joel Ntambwe and two younger siblings named Alex and Flory.
This makes Jonathan one of four children in the family.
In a 2019 interview, Kuminga said he had three siblings and explained that basketball and other sports were common throughout the family. More detailed reporting later identified Joel, Alex and Flory by name.
Joel Ntambwe – Jonathan Kuminga’s Older Brother
Joel Ntambwe is Jonathan Kuminga’s older brother and the sibling who has had the greatest publicly documented influence on his basketball career.
Although the brothers have different surnames, ESPN confirmed that Jonathan and Joel have the same mother and father. Joel carries the surname of their late grandfather.
Joel is approximately four years older than Jonathan and moved to the United States before his younger brother.
He played college basketball at UNLV and later transferred to Texas Tech. Joel subsequently pursued professional basketball opportunities, including time in the NBA G League and Basketball Africa League.
The brothers are exceptionally close. When Jonathan first arrived in the United States, Joel was essentially his main source of family support despite the physical distance separating their schools.
As Jonathan developed into an elite prospect, Joel increasingly helped him navigate his basketball career. He assisted with media requests, endorsement opportunities and other responsibilities surrounding his younger brother.
Their relationship continued after Jonathan entered the NBA. Joel spent time living with him and helping manage aspects of his day-to-day schedule.
Both brothers have also represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo in basketball.
Why Does Joel Ntambwe Have a Different Last Name From Jonathan Kuminga?
Jonathan Kuminga and Joel Ntambwe are full brothers despite having different surnames.
ESPN reported in 2025 that they share the same mother and father, while Joel uses the surname of their late grandfather.
The different surnames have occasionally caused confusion among basketball fans, with some assuming that Joel is a half-brother or cousin. Reliable reporting confirms that he is Jonathan’s biological older brother.
Alex – Jonathan Kuminga’s Younger Sibling
Alex is one of Jonathan Kuminga’s two younger siblings.
Joel Ntambwe confirmed in a 2025 interview that their father introduced Joel and his three younger siblings — Jonathan, Alex and Flory — to basketball.
Alex has maintained a significantly lower public profile than Jonathan and Joel. There is limited verified information about Alex’s education, basketball development or personal life.
Earlier comments from Jonathan indicated that his younger siblings also played basketball while growing up, reflecting the sporting environment within the Kuminga family.
Flory – Jonathan Kuminga’s Younger Sibling
Flory is Jonathan Kuminga’s other younger sibling.
Like Alex, Flory was introduced to basketball through the family and has remained mostly outside the media spotlight.
Because neither Jonathan nor Joel has publicly shared extensive biographical details about their younger siblings, information beyond their names and family connection remains limited.
Jonathan Kuminga and His Brother Joel’s Basketball Bond
The relationship between Jonathan Kuminga and Joel Ntambwe goes beyond an ordinary sibling bond.
Joel was already pursuing basketball in the United States when Jonathan followed him from Congo. At a time when Jonathan was thousands of miles away from his parents and adapting to a new country, Joel provided familiarity and guidance.
Jonathan has repeatedly relied on his brother for basketball advice. Joel has watched games, discussed strategy with him and supported him during difficult stretches of his professional career.
The brothers have also shared a broader goal of using their basketball success to create opportunities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
After Jonathan won the NBA championship with Golden State in 2022, he returned to Congo and participated with Joel in basketball activities for young players.
The brothers want their success to demonstrate that children growing up under difficult circumstances in Congo can still envision careers beyond the opportunities immediately around them.
Is Emmanuel Mudiay Related to Jonathan Kuminga?
Yes. Former NBA player Emmanuel Mudiay is Jonathan Kuminga’s cousin.
Mudiay was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and later moved to the United States before becoming a highly rated basketball prospect.
He was selected seventh overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, six years before Golden State selected Kuminga with exactly the same draft position.
Kuminga has described Mudiay as one of his closest friends in basketball and an important influence on his career.
Watching Mudiay reach the NBA provided another example within Jonathan’s extended family of a Congolese player successfully making the transition to professional basketball.
Is Omari Gudul Related to Jonathan Kuminga?
Yes. Professional basketball player Omari Gudul is also Jonathan Kuminga’s cousin.
Gudul was born in Kinshasa and played college basketball in the United States before pursuing a professional career internationally.
Having Joel Ntambwe, Emmanuel Mudiay and Omari Gudul within his extended family demonstrates how deeply basketball runs through Kuminga’s family.
Jonathan Kuminga’s Congolese Family Roots
Jonathan Kuminga was born in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on October 6, 2002.
Basketball was part of his childhood from an extremely young age because of his parents’ involvement in the sport.
Kuminga has said that he began handling a basketball so young that he cannot remember exactly when he first started playing.
Growing up in Congo also shaped the way he views success. Basketball infrastructure was limited compared with the United States, and many young players competed without access to high-quality courts, footwear, coaches or training programs.
Kuminga eventually left the country as a teenager but has remained proud of his Congolese identity.
He later represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo internationally and has repeatedly returned to the country to support basketball development and community initiatives.
How Did Jonathan Kuminga’s Family Influence His Basketball Career?
Basketball was already part of the Kuminga household before Jonathan was born.
Both parents played the sport, and his father taught the children basketball fundamentals. His older brother Joel subsequently provided Jonathan with an example of how basketball could create educational and professional opportunities outside Congo.
When Joel moved to the United States, Jonathan eventually followed the same path.
The sacrifice required was enormous. Jonathan left his parents as a young teenager, spoke French as his first language and had to adjust to American culture while simultaneously competing against some of the best young basketball players in the country.
His family continued supporting him from a distance.
Kuminga eventually played at several American prep schools before joining NBA G League Ignite rather than attending college.
The Golden State Warriors selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
He won an NBA championship as a rookie in 2022, becoming one of the youngest players ever to win the title.
After spending the early years of his career with Golden State and later Atlanta, Kuminga joined the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jonathan Kuminga’s Family
Who is Jonathan Kuminga’s girlfriend?
Jonathan Kuminga does not have a publicly confirmed girlfriend. He has kept his romantic life private, and no reliable recent report has established a current partner.
Is Jonathan Kuminga married?
No. There is no reliable public information indicating that Jonathan Kuminga is married.
Does Jonathan Kuminga have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Jonathan Kuminga has children.
Who are Jonathan Kuminga’s parents?
Kuminga’s parents are Congolese and both played basketball. Although several websites publish names for them, those names have not been consistently verified by authoritative NBA or major-media sources. His mother is a pastor, while his father introduced Jonathan and his siblings to basketball.
Was Jonathan Kuminga’s father a basketball player?
Yes. Kuminga has said his father played basketball and was an athletic player and excellent shooter.
What does Jonathan Kuminga’s mother do?
Kuminga revealed that his mother is a pastor. She has a church in Tampa, Florida, while his parents have lived in Orlando.
How many siblings does Jonathan Kuminga have?
Jonathan Kuminga has three siblings: older brother Joel Ntambwe and younger siblings Alex and Flory.
Who is Jonathan Kuminga’s brother?
Jonathan’s older brother is Joel Ntambwe, a professional basketball player who previously played college basketball at UNLV and Texas Tech.
Are Jonathan Kuminga and Joel Ntambwe biological brothers?
Yes. ESPN confirmed that Jonathan Kuminga and Joel Ntambwe have the same mother and father. Joel uses their late grandfather’s surname.
Why do Jonathan Kuminga and Joel Ntambwe have different surnames?
Joel carries the surname of the brothers’ late grandfather, explaining why he uses Ntambwe while Jonathan uses Kuminga.
Who are Jonathan Kuminga’s younger siblings?
Jonathan’s younger siblings are named Alex and Flory. They have largely remained outside the public spotlight.
Is Emmanuel Mudiay Jonathan Kuminga’s brother?
No. Emmanuel Mudiay is Jonathan Kuminga’s cousin, not his brother.
Who are Jonathan Kuminga’s basketball relatives?
In addition to his brother Joel Ntambwe, Kuminga is related to former NBA guard Emmanuel Mudiay and professional basketball player Omari Gudul, both of whom are his cousins.
Pedro Salcas is a dedicated sports journalist and NBA specialist focused on team strategy, player performance, and league news. Tracking action across the Eastern and Western Conferences, he breaks down complex game tape, roster moves, and statistics into clear, engaging analysis. From preseason storylines to deep playoff runs, Pedro brings a sharp analytical perspective and passion for basketball to keep readers informed on everything happening in the NBA.
