The San Antonio Spurs received troublesome news on Monday. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Victor Wembanyama is dealing with a left calf strain. The expectation is that the star center will be out for a few weeks.
With Wembanyama missing Sunday's 123-110 victory vs. the Sacramento Kings, the Spurs inserted former Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet into the starting lineup. The eight-year veteran responded with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and a game-high three blocks in the win.
A sprained ankle prevented Kornet from playing in six of San Antonio's first 13 tilts. However, when available, he has proven why John Hollinger, the former vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, labeled his signing one of the smartest moves made this offseason.
The seven-foot-two center is averaging 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks in six appearances. Spurs fans should feel confident about his ability to hold down the fort in Wembanyama's absence.
What Luke Kornet affords the Spurs
The Texas native returned home with championship experience. That knowledge, and what he learned while blossoming within the Celtics' organization as he reinvented himself offensively, is invaluable to San Antonio's young core.
However, Kornet isn't just a great resource to learn about sacrifice, putting the team first, and what it looks like to live up to championship standards daily. While important, that alone wouldn't have landed him a four-year, $41 million deal this summer.
What the former Vanderbilt star offers on the hardwood is the ability to function alongside Wembanyama when he's healthy. That's an avenue for the Spurs to counter the size of a rival like the Houston Rockets. It is also a way for them to dictate personnel or take advantage of a smaller opponent.
Beyond that, Kornet has proven in Boston and now with his new team that he can operate effectively as the stand-alone center in a single-big lineup.
His physicality, carried out through actions like delivering punishing screens, will help free players like De'Aaron Fox, who recently made his season debut, to attack downhill or step into open shots. Kornet's also a savvy and reliable facilitator. As evidenced by his 80.6 percent field goal percentage to start the current campaign, he finishes effectively around the basket.
At the other end of the floor, he's a trusted rim protector who helps his team win on the margins, limiting opponents' second-chance opportunities.
Now, San Antonio needs Kornet to help steady the ship while Wembanyama's out. His ability to do so should make it that much easier for the Spurs to remain patient with their star center's recovery. In the interim, the former can hold down the fort, ensuring they don't feel pressure to rush Wembanyama and risk further or a more severe injury.