“Jonathan Kuminga Secretly Delivered Christmas Gifts to 43 Orphans in Oakland — Dressed as Santa, No Cameras Allowed”
Oakland, CA — While most NBA stars spent their Christmas morning sharing Instagram stories of gifts and courtside celebrations, Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga was quietly doing something else — something no one knew about until days later.
According to staff at the Oakland Hills Children’s Home, a man dressed in a full Santa suit arrived at their gates just before sunrise on December 25th, carrying large bags filled with wrapped gifts. They didn’t recognize him at first — until one of the teenagers whispered, “Wait… that’s Kuminga.”
He had come alone, without a media crew, without announcements, and without fanfare. Only after he left did a staff member confirm his identity.
“He insisted on no photos. He just said, ‘Today isn’t about me. It’s about making sure these kids feel seen,’” said the home’s director.
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Inside the bags were personalized presents for each of the 43 children, including winter coats, sneakers, toys, books, and even tablets preloaded with learning apps. Many of the gifts had tags with the children’s names on them, written in Kuminga’s own handwriting.
One 8-year-old boy told volunteers:
“Santa knew my favorite color and gave me Spider-Man socks… I think he really listens.”
Kuminga reportedly stayed for over an hour — handing out gifts, reading Christmas stories, and playing basketball with the older kids in the yard — still in full Santa gear.
Though the event wasn’t publicized, the story spread after one of the children wrote about it in a thank-you letter shared anonymously online. Fans are now calling him “Silent Santa,” and many have praised the young NBA star for using his platform in a deeply human way.
In a season full of headlines, this quiet act of kindness may be Kuminga’s most powerful play yet.