Luke Kornet officially joined the San Antonio Spurs on Monday and expressed admiration for franchise legend Tim Duncan during his introductory press conference.
The veteran center signed a four-year, $41 million contract with the Spurs on July 7 after helping the Boston Celtics win the 2024 NBA championship.
Kornet, who spent the past four seasons in Boston, will wear the No. 7 jersey in San Antonio instead of his usual No. 40. He explained that the number choice is a nod to Duncan’s legacy with the Spurs.
“I just hope to be a third of the player that Tim Duncan was,” Kornet said when asked about the change, via ClutchPoints. Duncan wore No. 21 during his Hall of Fame career and led the Spurs to five NBA titles.
Over his eight-year NBA career, Kornet has played 353 regular-season games, averaging 5.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per contest. He appeared in 73 games last season for Boston, averaging 6.0 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting nearly 67 percent from the field.
In the 2025 playoffs, Kornet started one game and contributed key minutes off the bench, posting 4.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. His defensive presence and efficient scoring helped the Celtics secure their record 18th championship.
The former Vanderbilt standout began his professional career with the New York Knicks in 2017 before stints with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, and finally Boston. His journey now continues in San Antonio, where he will bring veteran experience to a young Spurs roster.
