Luke Kornet's Job Is Simple: Protect the Rim, Finish…

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Tuesday, October 13

Luke Kornet is the insurance policy behind Victor Wembanyama, not a threat to take his job. Last season's numbers explain why San Antonio trusts him with real minutes even as a rookie center pushes for the same spot.

Luke Kornet of the Spurs — Luke Kornet. Photo: Rikster2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What is Luke Kornet's role on this roster?

Kornet backs up Victor Wembanyama at center, a non-shooter who finishes near the rim and protects it. Last season he took zero three-pointers in 68 games, made 64.3 percent of his shots, and blocked 1.0 per game in 21.0 minutes. His job is minutes management, not shot creation.

How did his 2025-26 season actually break down?

Across 68 games Kornet averaged 6.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 blocks in 21.0 minutes, shooting 82.5 percent from the free-throw line. The rebounding and shot-blocking numbers are the ones that matter for a center playing behind Wembanyama rather than instead of him.

Do the advanced numbers support that role?

Kornet posted a 114.4 offensive rating and 110.5 defensive rating, a net of 3.9, with a 68.9 percent true shooting mark on just 10.0 percent usage. His 13.2 percent rebound rate and 11.4 percent assist rate round out a profile built entirely around efficiency inside a small number of plays run for him.

Does Tarris Reed Jr.'s preseason push change his minutes?

Reed, the rookie center, pulled down 17 rebounds in 22 minutes in the preseason loss at Utah, eight of them offensive. Air Alamo has framed Kornet as the mentor shaping that development rather than a rival for the job, and nothing in the rotation so far suggests the veteran is losing his spot behind Wembanyama.

What does his contract say about his job security?

Kornet signed for $10.4 million this season, $9.9 million next season, and a $9.3 million team option in 2028-29 — term that assumes he keeps the backup center job rather than losing it to a rookie. He is not on the injury report entering the Phoenix game.

The verdictKornet's job this season is unglamorous and specific: protect the rim, clean the glass, and make the minutes behind Wembanyama feel uneventful. He does not need to beat out Reed for the role — he needs to make that competition close enough that Mitch Johnson can rest Wembanyama without the defense sagging.

Is Luke Kornet on the Spurs' injury report?

No. Kornet is not listed on the injury report heading into the preseason game against Phoenix.

Does Luke Kornet shoot three-pointers?

No. He attempted zero three-pointers last season, building his offense entirely around the rim on 64.3 percent shooting.