The Golden State Warriors are in dire need of Stephen Curry’s return.

While the superstar guard has only had a two-game absence with his current pelvic injury — the team is struggling in a massive way without him on the hardwood.

Fortunately, the Warriors will see Curry return, more than likely, in their coming contest against the New Orleans Pelicans.

As The Athletic’s Anthony Slater recently reported, the club is expecting the Davidson product to be cleared for return despite being listed as questionable initially.

However, as Curry is soon set to return, another injury hit was taken for Golden State as it was announced that Gary Payton II suffered a thumb injury that will keep him out for quite some time.

After a scorching hot first 19 games with Jimmy Butler, the Warriors are being shaken up as of late and need to return to form.

Returning Curry is the first step to doing so — but what’s the second?

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr understands that Payton’s absence is brutal, though it does open up an opportunity for one player to step up in a critical way.

Kerr sends Jonathan Kuminga message after Payton news

With Payton being injured, Jonathan Kuminga — who made his return to the hardwood earlier this month following a two-month absence — will be able to step into a “defensive stopper” role.

“It opens up an opportunity for (Jonathan Kuminga) to be that defensive stopper, the guy we’ve relied on Gary to be,” Kerr said on Thursday.

With Butler and Draymond Green on the floor, there is plenty of defensive prowess, and Kuminga’s high-level effort can tie everything together on that end of the floor.

After missing two months in a contract season, Kuminga can really make an impact late in the club’s regular season campaign to make a statement prior to hitting the market.

Evidently, Golden State hopes to maximize Kuminga’s value with Payton being sidelined, regardless of how that impacts what this offseason looks like.