Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics reaches around but can't steal the ball from Luke Kornet #7 of the San Antonio Spurs
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Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics reaches around but can't steal the ball from Luke Kornet #7 of the San Antonio Spurs
For the first five years of his career, former Celtics big man Luke Kornet bounced around a variety of teams, including not one, but two stops in Boston. He got his first chance as an undrafted free agent n a two-way contract with the Knicks, then signed with the Bulls, who later traded him. He had 10-day contracts in Cleveland and Milwaukee but it was when he came back to the Celtics after the 2022 trade deadline that Kornet began to find his way in the league.
Kornet played 69 games as Al Horford‘s backup in 2022-23, and played 63 in that role the following year. He played 73 games last season, with 16 starts. The Celtics weaned Kornet–who fancied himself a stretch-5 despite shooting 32.1% from the 3-point line in his career–off the arc and got him to focus on rebounding and defending the paint, and he averaged 11.7 points and 10.3 rebounds, with 1.9 blocks last year.
Along the way, Kornet became a popular figure on the team for his offbeat interviews and locker room presence.
Luke Kornet Chose Between Celtics, Spurs
Alas, Kornet also played so well that Celtics could not afford to keep him in free agency last year, as the team tried to wrangle itself out of second-apron doom. He did consider coming back to Boston, but the Celtics could not match the four-year, $41 million deal he got from the Spurs.
Kornet was in Boston on Saturday (and on Friday, when he showed up at TD Garden to watch the Celtics play Toronto), and reflected on the decision to sign with the Spurs last summer.
“Ultimately, it was kind of between here and Boston,” he said. “I feel like, obviously there were a lot of conversations with my wife and honestly a lot of prayer and realization of where we are in life, and it was very, very difficult to leave. A lot of relationships.
“But I think, kind of feeling we’re in a different part of life and kind of being open to wherever God willed us and wherever it took us. You sort of accept it and take that step forward.”
‘There Is a Lot of Energy’
While Kornet is back with a contender in San Antonio, and has played a big role for the Spurs as they’ve managed injuries to Victor Wembanyama, he is impressed with what he has seen from the Celtics.
Boston let go of Kornet, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis this offseason in cost-cutting moves, and has been without Jayson Tatum as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. But the Celtics are 24-14, tied for second in the East.
“Honestly, the energy and force and movement, the chaos that they’re playing with a little bit,” Kornet said when asked for his impressions of the team. “A lot of the younger wings are playing and stuff, and there is a lot of energy in that respect, I feel like everyone is kind of picking up the load offensively and stuff.
“It’s honestly cool to see them playing fast and free and aggressive, a lot more reacting live. It is cool to see because obviously there are a lot of smart players here, the ability to do that. Obviously, Jaylen (Brown) has been incredible and he has assumed a larger role and he’s been awesome. So, it’s been cool to see everybody take that next step for themselves and the team.”