Luke Kornet has fit in quite nicely already with the Spurs after signing a four-year deal with the Western Conference squad this summer. His role is about to become magnified following a left calf strain to Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs announced Monday that he is expected to be sidelined for 2-3 weeks, clearing the way for Kornet to become the Spurs starting center for the remainder of November and potentially beyond.
Kornet missed six games already this season for the Spurs due to an ankle sprain, but he returned to action last Monday, playing well in the team’s last four games. He already filled in for Wembanyama on Sunday night at center in a win over the Kings, posting 13 points and 11 rebounds in a 13-point win.
The former Celtics center has been an efficiency machine in the paint so far for the Spurs in his limited appearances, shooting 80.6 percent from the field while boosting 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
His workload is already increasing with him averaging a career-high 23 minutes per game in six appearances, and that number is likely to go up now with Wembanyama sidelined. Another former Celtics center, Kelly Olynyk, is also expected to see an increase in minutes at center, backing up Kornet along with veteran Bismack Biyombo.
Kornet, 30, signed a four-year deal with the Spurs worth $41 million but with only the first two years of the deal fully guaranteed. Boston did offer Kornet a deal but were not willing to come close to the salary the Spurs offered, per sources, due to the team’s hefty repeater tax penalties.
The Spurs have been one of the bright spots to begin the season in the Western Conference, jumping out to a surprise 9-4 record even with star point guard De’Aaron Fox sidelined for the opening few weeks. Fox is now back in the lineup since the start of last week, but he will have to lead this team with Kornet manning the middle for a while instead of their superstar center.
Kornet and the Spurs make their only visit to Boston this season on January 10.
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