Jonathan Kuminga hosts high-schoolers for new ‘Black Panther’ screening at Grand Lake Theatre

OAKLAND – Warriors second-year wing Jonathan Kuminga called it a “blessing” to host 600 Bay Area high school students Thursday afternoon at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland for a private screening of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

Kuminga, who drove over the Bay Bridge after the Warriors practiced Thursday at the Chase Center, was bursting with excitement for the teens to arrive at the theater.

“I feel great hosting kids, coming here and watching the movie for free,” he said. “Just having them here, I’m happy to be able to do this.”

Kuminga said he didn’t experience the same outreach by community leaders as the Bay Area youngsters did Thursday when he was growing up in the Republic of Congo. That’s part of the reason why the 20-year-old feels it’s important to give back to the community he represents on the basketball court.

Kuminga was a fan of “Black Panther” and was looking forward to the sequel.

“Hopefully the second movie is going to be as fun,” he said.

The movie officially opened Friday, but public screenings across the Bay Area were scheduled for Thursday evening.