At 7-foot-1, Luke Kornet is a towering presence — yet in a league full of star power, his impact often flies under the radar. The center position is filled with household names, even a few who are more well-known share the floor with him. However, he brings a level of size, consistency and self-awareness that makes him undoubtedly valuable in his role.
While not quite on Wembanyama’s scale, Kornet stands shoulder-to-shoulder with a group of 35 current players who are 7-feet or taller. In that club, he’s one of only five to go undrafted, compared to the 22 selected in the 1st round.
These dimensions are rare, but highly sought-after. There’s a reason the Celtics employ three that fit the mold. For a team so dedicated to floor spacing, it’s noteworthy that both Kornet and Queta get their work done inside the arc.
Interestingly, despite Kornet holding the NCAA record for most career 3PM by a 7-footer, his arrival in Boston was the beginning of the end for his days as a traditional spacer.
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
In Luke’s first three seasons, 64% of his FGA came from 3PT range. Over the last three years in Boston, that number crashes all the way down to 3%. In that same timeframe, the percentage of his field goal attempts that were dunks rose from 7% —> 38%.
Sure, part of me would enjoy seeing him step out for a three every now and then. But it’s clear that this revamped shot diet has been key to his development into a regular part of the rotation.
On a similar note, Kornet’s self-awareness has made this transition much easier. He knows exactly what is expected of him and rarely ventures outside of that role. While this can limit his ability to dominate a box score, it provides the stability that any coach would covet
Kornet has grown in nearly every aspect of his game. According to Cleaning The Glass, his points per shot attempt has ranked in the 92nd percentile or higher for his position over the past three seasons.
Luke may not be the quickest or most explosive leaper, but his size is an asset, and he’s consistently on time and in the right place.
He’s also made strides as a playmaker, posting an assist-to-usage ratio of 1.21, which ranks in the 95th percentile for his position. Despite a low usage rate, he’s been highly effective as a passer and efficient with his touches.
Kornet’s confidence and fluidity are most evident on possessions like these where he slips out to the short roll area. He’s a big target when the ball handler gets trapped, and processes situations faster than you’d expect. His court mapping and awareness have improved significantly on both sides of the floor.
Defensively, he earns his keep by altering a considerable number of shots in the paint. Among players who have faced 100+ rim FGA, his defensive field goal percentage of 46.9% ranks second in the NBA.
He doesn’t prioritize chasing blocks, focusing instead on staying vertical and disciplined. You can’t teach size, and Luke is not an easy guy to shoot over. I wouldn’t consider him a deterrent the way some of his peers are — as players are eager to test him — but he’s cut from the cloth of players willing to get dunked on if it means challenging the attempt.
With the Celtics leaning on double-big lineups, Luke has alternated between a variety of different matchups and responsibilities. It certainly helps with the offensive fit to play alongside two capable spacers like Horford and Porzingis, but Kornet has been a boost to those lineups in his own right.
The samples are still small, but the two-man unit of Horford and Kornet has a solid +9.1 net rating, while Kornet and Porzingis are an elite +24.2. The latter pairing has been especially effective on defense with the combined size and rim defense of two 7-footers roaming around.
So far, Kornet has spent 40.3% of his minutes guarding forwards, compared to 30.7% vs centers. It isn’t completely natural, but he is performing about as well as you could expect while being drawn out to the perimeter.
In 344 minutes with Luke as the lone big, Boston has 13.28 net rating. That’s amplified by sharing the floor with great teammates, but his contributions to the success of those lineups is real.
He’s not perfect. There are still times he mistakenly taps a rebound to the other team instead of securing it with two hands, or when his rotations are a half-step too slow. But his combination of low usage and positive impact makes him a fantastic third center in the rotation.
His game might not grab the spotlight, but Kornet’s steady contributions make him a key part of Boston’s success. Even in a league full of stars, there’s always room for a player who knows his role and embraces it.
