Former Celtics center Luke Kornet (right) signed a four-year contract with the Spurs during the offseason.
Former Celtics center Luke Kornet (right) signed a four-year contract with the Spurs during the offseason.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
On Saturday night, center Luke Kornet faced the Celtics for the first time since signing with the Spurs last summer. During his time in Boston, he emerged as a key rotational piece as well as a fan favorite, in part due to the levity he brought to the team.
And on Saturday, it was clear that had endured. When Kornet was asked whether he was expecting a video tribute before the game, he smiled.
“For those potential Hall of Famers like myself, you kind of expect it at a certain point,” he quipped.
Kornet was then asked what highlights he would like to see in his video.
“Well, I don’t think they have a lot of footage of my training room trivia and weight room trivia domination,” he said. “But I’d want it to be a lot more of that, which I don’t people are going to find as engaging of content.”
The tribute video was played at the end of the first quarter Saturday night. It showed a mix of Kornet’s basketball highlights and offbeat personality. Most of the Celtics looked up to watch the clip, as did Kornet, who waved to the crowd and received a loud standing ovation when it was completed.
The biggest of dawgs, Luke Kornet 😤☘ pic.twitter.com/BOghQJYDgS
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 11, 2026
“When you throw a shutout and throw for four touchdowns and 300 yards every day, it’s kind of just the expectation that those things don’t stand out to you much,” Kornet said. “It’s really the embarrassing moments that really stick with you. . . . That would be the University of Miami football roster from the 2000s and ‘90s. That was a tough day for me.”
Jokes aside, Kornet said he was excited to be back in Boston, where his career was resuscitated. He was originally traded to the Celtics in 2021 and later signed with the team’s G League affiliate in Maine.
After brief stints with the Cavaliers and Bucks the following season, he re-signed with Boston and played for the team for 3½ seasons. He averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds during the 2023-24 championship season and took on an even larger role last year as Kristaps Porzingis battled injury and illness.
“Obviously, we were able to have some success here and it was awesome to be a part of, but I had no idea what it’d ultimately end up being,” he said. “At the time I was just trying to figure out a way to stay in the NBA. When I came to Maine it was like, we’ll see if we can give it another shot at this, and obviously I’ve been able to have quite a run since then. So, I’m just thankful to be playing each year.”
The Celtics attempted to re-sign Kornet last summer, but their push to get below the salary cap’s second apron limited the amount they offered. Also, Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury appeared to reset the team’s championship hopes.
So last summer Kornet, a Texas native, signed a four-year, $41 million deal with the Spurs, where he would serve as Victor Wembanyama’s primary backup.
“It was very, very difficult to leave a lot of the relationships, but just kind of feeling like I’m in a different part of life and kind of being able to wherever God willed us,” Kornet said.
LUUUUUUUUKE 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/EvWGnBvHwy
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 11, 2026
Still, Kornet has been keeping tabs on the Celtics from afar. The Spurs’ schedule allowed him to attend the Celtics’ road game against the Timberwolves in November, as well as Friday night’s home game against the Raptors. Kornet sat courtside with co-owner Wyc Grousbeck, chatted with Tatum during a timeout, and stopped in Boston’s locker room after the game.
He said he has been impressed by the Celtics, who entered Saturday in second place in the Eastern Conference.
“The energy and force and movement and chaos they’re playing with, I feel like there’s just a lot of younger wings playing and there’s a lot of energy,” Kornet said. “I feel like everyone’s picking up more of the load offensively. It’s been cool to see. They play fast and free and aggressive and reacting live, which is cool to see. Obviously, there’s a lot of smart players here. Jaylen [Brown’s] been incredible and everyone has assumed a larger role. [Neemias Queta] has been awesome. So, it’s been cool to see everybody take that next step for themselves and for the team.”
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.