Playing for the Boston Celtics the last three-plus seasons revitalized Luke Kornet's career. He won a championship with the illustrious franchise in 2024, too.
Kornet's stock was at an all-time high when the 7-foot-2 center hit free agency this offseason, and unlike last summer, Kornet decided this time around he wouldn't return to the Celtics, who were most interested in cutting costs to avoid the second apron.
Kornet received the biggest payday of his career by signing a four-year, $41 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs and he discussed Monday during his introductory press conference what led him to leave the Celtics after a successful second stint with the organization.
"I'm grateful for all the time that I had in Boston," Kornet told reporters, as transcribed by CelticsBlog's Noa Dalzell. "I feel like it was a really appropriate place for the last several years and grateful for all the opportunity that it was. But, just kind of felt led, and then throughout the process, just felt like San Antonio was really the place that kind of had everything that we hoped for."
Kornet played in a career-high 73 games this past season and turned into a reliable interior presence on both ends of the floor. His strong locker room presence and respect he garnered from his teammates with his fun-loving attitude also boosted his value.
The eight-year NBA veteran, who entered the league on a two-way contract with the New York Knicks in 2017, enters a much different situation with the Spurs than what Kornet grew accustomed to with the Celtics.
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Kornet, 29, was on veteran-laden teams with the Celtics and he now steps into a spot with the Spurs who possess a youthful and talented group, which features back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners Victor Wembenyama and Stephon Castle along with this year's No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper.
"I've been playing the last couple of years with a very experienced group, and honestly, I just hope to be able to serve in whatever way I can," Kornet said. "I don't think there's any -- you're walking in and feeling like you're teaching anybody. Really, you're all together trying to figure it out.
"Having the experience that I had, and us having won a championship in Boston, and having a lot of playoff experience, you just start growing a better understanding of how your team needs to work -- the maturity that is sort of required, how quickly you can recognize and acknowledge what your strengths are and how to cover up your weaknesses. I hope to facilitate that process for us on the court."
Kornet feels good about his difficult free-agent decision. It was made a little easier given what Celtics teammate Derrick White told him about the Spurs. White spent the first four-plus seasons of his NBA career with the Spurs and still fondly recalls his time with San Antonio, which had an influence on Kornet and makes his excited for what lies ahead.
"There's quite a few people in Boston who had been in San Antonio before. Derrick had nothing but positive things to say," Kornet said. "Derrick, obviously, it was such a great place for him. He's kind of come to his own in Boston. I got called up to Boston, and he got traded there at the same time, so I feel like it was interesting to see him grow into a new place after a place that he really cherished for a lot of years. Just grateful to be able to be a part of this."
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