What will Luke Kornet bring to the Spurs on defense?

Exploring the rim protection and rebounding Luke Kornet will provide to the Spurs' defense with film clips and data.

Back in late April, once the San Antonio Spurs’ 2024-25 regular season had ended, I wrote this when reviewing the Spurs’ end-of-season data.

On the glass, the Spurs finished 26th in opponent offensive rebound percentage, 28th in opponent second chance points, 21st in defensive rebounds, and with rim protection, 27th in opponent dunk/layup range makes per game. Wemby missed the second half of the season due to a blood clot, but even when he was healthy and playing, the defense struggled anytime he took a break.

And then this, after a few more sentences.

The clear need is a backup big, and again, either a very mobile forward who can be active on the glass and impact contesting shots or a center taller than 6’10” to help keep opponents off the offensive glass and provide some rim protection when Wemby rests.

On the opening day of free agency, the Spurs got the free agent who is going to help address some of those needs by agreeing to a 4-year deal for $41 million with 7’2” center Luke Kornet.

After watching the film on Kornet and examining the data, I want to delve into what he will bring to the Spurs on the defensive end of the floor. Along with the statistics, I’ll also be providing some film clips that I've put together. Here are the seven elements of Kornet’s game I’ll be diving into.

• Blocking shots

• Contesting Shots

• Defensive Rebounding

• Steals and Deflections

• Fouling

• Matchups

• A new wrinkle for the Spurs’ defense

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Blocking shots

From the traditional box score, Kornet averaged one block per game in 18.6 minutes coming off the bench for the Boston Celtics. He should have a similar role with the Spurs, being the team’s new backup center behind Victor Wembanyama.

Kornet had 71 total blocks last season. I went back and watched the 67 available clips of his blocks, categorizing them into six categories.

• Help defense blocks: 39 blocks (58% of blocks)

• 1-on-1 drive blocks: 16 blocks (24% of blocks)

• 3-point closeout blocks: 7 blocks (10% of blocks)

• Dunker spot blocks: 2 blocks

• Mid-range shot blocks: 2 blocks

• Short roll blocks: 1 block

As you can see, Kornet’s three main ways of blocking shots are to come as a help defender, blocking shots when players try to isolate against him from the perimeter and drive inside, and when he’s outside, closing out on a 3-point shooter.

Help Defense Blocks