"I'm not sure there's another player like him in all of college basketball," said one scout who watched Kornet in person at the Maui Invitational. Luke Francis Kornet (born July 15, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Yuta Watanabe and TJ Warren are both focused on keeping Kornet off the glass, but his arms extend so far over them that they have no chance. His older sister, Nicole, who plays basketball at UCLA, called him a "string bean.". The decision didn't cause any problems when it came to Luke's grades, but it caused problems socially. Why are you jumping?' Luke Kornet, the backup center for the Celtics, has become a viral sensation for his trademark defensive maneuver. He is the all-time leader for blocked shots in the school's history and the NCAA all-time leader for three-pointers made by any player 7 feet tall or taller. Please enter a valid email and try again. [3], After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Kornet joined the New York Knicks for the 2017 NBA Summer League. You can even watch a full three-minute breakdown of the strategy on YouTube. ", One thing that wasn't an issue was Luke's height. 242 pounds to 238 pounds, with Motley having the edge on hand size. From an on court, practical sense, theyre the same size. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Join our linker program. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Luke Kennard SG-SF: . College scouts weren't allowed to attend the event, but recruiting services were, and after their write-ups ended up on the desks of coaches the following Monday, Kornet and his father could hardly put down their phones. Similar issues arose when he tried to guard Tennessee's Jarnell Stokes and Kentucky's Julius Randle. He finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes, thus being the second Knicks rookie in history to debut with a double-double. Still, he said it's something worth discussing with players in Kornet's situation. "If they're open, I just want them to let it go, and not focus on that.". Luke Kornet averages 3.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. Sure, his son was undersized at 180 pounds, but Frank was confident Luke would eventually fill out and gain strength much like he had done nearly 30 years earlier. And that projection could improve. I literally couldn't move him at all. "It was at a time in life where it's like, 'All right. Just how effective is Luke Kornet's unorthodox 'eclipse' defense? Moreover, Frank did, however, play two seasons in the NBA with the Bucks, averaging 1.9 points per game in 89 games.. Again, Tracy Kornet, Luke's mother, is also a wealthy businesswoman. Kornet gets absolutely burned by one of the best ball-handlers in the business, Kyrie Irving, who gets to his spot. Kornet finished Sunday's 120-114 win over the Hawks with 12 points (5-10 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, six assists and one steal in 33 minutes. Kornet initially utilized the maneuver only when it involved a center taking a pick-and-pop 3 who could attack his closeout off the dribble and force him out of the play. Whether it was reading, learning big words or solving complex math problems, it was clear at an early age Kornet was at a different level than his peers academically. "If they let me play, cool," Kornet remembers thinking. "Sometimes I watch him out there and think, My goodness!'" Kornet, who has a 9'6" standing reach, is pegged as a late first-round or early second-round pick in the 2017 NBA draft. What are the advantages of using it? After earning chances with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks, Boston signed Kornet to a contract for the remainder of the season. The 7-foot-2 Kornet leaped twice vertically with arms stretched high above his head while Cleveland's Isaac Okoro launched a pair of wide open 3-point shots from the corner . While his classmates were going through puberty around the ninth and 10th grade, Luke's maturation process was delayed. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. "You're not going to hurt my feelings. Learn how your comment data is processed. You will receive mail with link to set new password. Luke Kornet: Crashes glass in Monday's loss. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Rather than relying on athleticism, Kornet banks on his wingspan and height to get him in the right position at the right time. Luke Kornet | Bio, Wiki, Age, Career, Wife, Kids, Net Worth, Salary, Height By now, most hardcore fans of the Boston Celtics have heard of the unique defensive strategy used by backup big man Luke Kornet to contest perimeter shots with the Celtics this season. In addition, Kornet provided the Celtics with some level of rim protection up front. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. Welcome to Wingspan Sports! He sold me. 5 things to know about new Celtics big men Moritz Wagner and Luke Kornet Luke loved the city and the fact that both of his parents attended the school, whose reputation for academicsranks among the best in the country. That quickly changed. Luke Kornet | Boston Celtics | NBA.com us, High School: "I was really just trying to stay in the paint last year in Maine, in terms of protecting the rim always and over-helping always," Kornet said, "because that's also sort of what we do up here [in Boston]. He lies in wait, shooting up for the block at the exact moment of no return for Ball. Its one hes been using to his advantage all year. [12], On January 3, 2022, Kornet signed a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Okoros second miss bounced over the top of the basket. The Luke Kornet Hype. Celtics center Luke Kornet went viral for his unusual method of contesting 3-point shots from a distance, but the Boston big man swears the numbers back up his thinking. He had navigated the Wells Fargo Center successfully in the past, but always with a group of teammates in. It probably wasn't an accident that Vanderbilt failed to mention Kornet's weight in the press release to announce his signing in 2013. For Celtics' Luke Kornet, contesting 3s from the paint has method in With Jones manning the paint, the bulk of Kornet's time on offense is spent on the perimeter. Hardy texted Kornet when Wizards forward Rui Hachimura successfully shot-faked him into jumping early in a Celtics win on Oct. 30. Dozier-wow, great length numbers for a PG. Take a look at this play. Celtics' Luke Kornet: All-around performance off bench. Celtics Reportedly Sign Luke Kornet To Exhibit 10 Deal This past offseason, the Celtics inked Kornet to a two-year contract, and just a few days later, Theis was traded to the Indiana Pacers in the trade that landed Malcolm Brogdon. Luke Kornet: Scores eight in garbage time. How does it work? On the season, Kornet has made 25 of his 52 attempts (48.1%). Kornet, seen here after being named homecoming king at his high school, grew from 6'1" as a freshman to 6'10" as a senior. For reference, Horfords numbers (obviously, on many more attempts) all hover around the 36% mark. There has been a critical error on this website. It was an homage to Stromile Swift, Kornet explained via NBC Sports Boston. When guarded by Kornet, opponents are shooting just 41.3% from the mid-range, 30.4% from the left corner three, 32.1% from the right corner three, and 30.8% on above-the-break threes. By now, most hardcore fans of the Boston Celtics have heard of the unique defensive strategy used by backup big man Luke Kornet to contest perimeter shots with the Celtics this season. 15 standard deals, 1 Two-Way deal. Luke Kornet PPG 3.8 RPG 2.9 APG 0.8 PIE 9.9 HEIGHT 7'2" (2.18m) WEIGHT 250lb (113kg) COUNTRY USA LAST ATTENDED Vanderbilt AGE 27 years BIRTHDATE July 15, 1995 DRAFT Undrafted EXPERIENCE 5 Years. Danilo Gallinari tore his ACL at EuroBasket, Robert Williams underwent arthroscopic knee surgery at the end of the offseason, Al Horford was set to take on a smaller role, and Blake Griffin was signed to provide Boston with added depth. [16], Kornet is the son of former Vanderbilt and NBA player Frank Kornet and Nashville television news anchor Tracy Kornet. Eligibility restrictions apply. I was like, Wow, I've got a lot of work to do here.'". In March 2013, Kornet ended his senior season at Liberty Christian Schoola private school just outside of Dallas and off the radar of college recruiterswithout a single Division I scholarship offer. Luke Francis Kornet (born July 15, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ahead of Bostons tilt against Charlotte on January 14, he stressed the importance of adapting to every situation. Watch him get the edge over two Brooklyn Nets players on this possession. Jaylen Brown and the Celtics are learning from Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. [5] On April 9, 2019, Kornet recorded a double-double with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and a career-high six blocks in the Knicks' 9686 win over the Chicago Bulls. Not UT-Arlington, Rice or Texas-San Antonio. He was 6'1" as a freshman in high school, 6'2" as a sophomore, 6'5" as a junior and 6'10" as a senior. More: But for what the Celtics paid and for what Kornets role on the team is, you would be hard-pressed to find another player doing a better job than him. As a toddler, about the only thing more impressive than his sizehe weighed 10 pounds, 10 ounces when he was born in Lexington, Kentuckywas Kornet's brain. Shortly after his return, Kornet posted a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks against Auburn. Just a month before graduation, Kornet's best option was to try to walk on at SMU, where he'd been offered an academic scholarship. His upside was huge. First-month grades for MLB teams Why does Celtics' Luke Kornet contest 3-point shots from the paint Kornets height allows Celtics ball-handlers to throw the ball to spots where the opponent cant get to it, just like Williams allows them to do with his athleticism. At 72 and 250lbs, Kornet is obviously not the most athletic player in the world. Kornet, a computer science major who turned 20 in July, has made just nine of his 39 attempts from beyond the arc this season, but Stallings isn't worried about his shot. Luke Kornet playing smart out there (h/t @SportsBoyTony) pic.twitter.com/wt8TOMiXFN. Luke Kornet attended Liberty Christian in Argyle, Texas and Vanderbilt. His rebounding has also been hugely impactful for the Celtics this year. Man for someone who works out occasionally its super disheartening that 13.6% body fat is high at this thing. Kornet has made 15 of his 24 three points attempts as a starter. Drafted 20th by the Raptors in 2014, Caboclo has some eye-opening physical traits, including a 7-foot-7 wingspan that ranks among the NBA's longest. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Kornet posted eight points (4-5 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds and two assists across nine minutes in Tuesday's 130-111 loss in Washington. Are there other downsides than simply not being in the right place as a big man in conventional defensive coverages to consider? But, then on film you watch it, and you're like, 'Dude, for a second the shooter can't see the basket.'". ", Get exclusive access to thousands of premium articles a year from top writers. His offensive game has also helped him stay on the court. Right, Born: [12], On December 21, 2021, Kornet signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kornet is never going to be the type of player the Celtics feel comfortable guarding a point guard or a quicker wing. Tim Miles from Nebraska was the first to call. Please enter your email address. Kornet has been a fighter on the offensive glass this season. 2014-15. Do you have a blog? The big man is averaging 9.7 boards per 36 minutes, which ranks second on the team behind only Williams. [13], On January 14, 2022, Kornet was reacquired by the Maine Celtics. On July 3, 2017, he signed a two-way contract with the Knicks. It wasn't just the power-conference schools that passed on the versatile 17-year-old. Kornet mainly roamed the perimeter. Nicole said she and Luke used to laugh and roll their eyes when their dad told them stories about how he was the first player in the weight room each morning back in the late '80s, doing his best to get bigger and stronger each day. More ESPN+ content . Im just happy some of these younger guys still remember me.. Now measuring at 7'1" and 245 pounds, Kornet has played his way into being a potential first-round draft pick, thanks in part to blocking 3.3 shots per game this season. Still, Kornet averaged 15.4 minutes as a freshman and contributed 4.0 points per game. Data Provided By Tyler Lydon-13.6 % body fat (highest at combine). "They come here to see Damian and leave talking about Luke. As the Celtics prepare to welcome the rival 76ers to town, Brown is taking notes from the all-time greats. "He loves it because he sees what it's done for him. Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (40) battles for a rebound against New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, Nov. 18 . The player with one of the highest ceilings in college basketball was almost a water boy at SMU. For reference, some of the few names ahead of him on the list include Brook Lopez (-5.1% at the rim), Joel Embiid (-5.4% at the rim), and Rudy Gobert (-5.9% at the rim). Kornet, with his 7-foot frame and 7-foot-2 wingspan, has gone with the tactic of simply jumping straight in the air, hands directly over his head, trying to obstruct the shooter's view of the. Frustrated as Frank Kornet was over Luke's lack of recruitment, he was convinced his sonwho was 6'10" at the timewas worthy of a Division I scholarship. Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. Luke Kornet, Boston Celtics, C - News, Stats, Bio Kornet has also done a solid job of staying grounded in pick-n-rolls and utilizing his positioning to record blocks that way. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 4:39AM. NU's Dererk Pardon is 'different' and it starts with an odd [14], On February 11, 2022, Kornet signed a contract with the Boston Celtics for the remainder of the season. Pair of Boston Celtics guards ranked eighth- and ninth-best active NBA players born in 1994, It's nearly Timelord time: Celtics' Robert Williams III nears a return from injury, The Boston Celtics have started the 2021-22 NBA season on fire, Celtics' Marcus Smart shares bone bruise may cause him to miss time this season, Celtics Lab 154: What's true, false, or too soon to tell about early-season Boston Celtics trends with Chris Forsberg. And again, instead of employing the freakish athleticism Williams possesses, Kornet simply uses his height and solid positioning. However, Kornet has been able to replicate a similar on-court product to the one Boston is missing with Williams off the floor. "I think to an inexperienced player, that might be distracting," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said earlier this month when the Miami Heat faced Boston. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images). Kornet has also done a solid job of staying grounded in. Luke Kornet Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com Luke Kornet Luke Francis Kornet (The Green Kornet) Position: Center and Power Forward Shoots: Right 7-2 , 250lb (218cm, 113kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 2 2 40 12 35 SUMMARY 2022-23 Career G 69 217 PTS 3.8 4.9 TRB 2.9 2.7 AST 0.8 0.9 FG% NO ONE -- INCLUDING Kornet -- believes the move is a foolproof way to thwart opposing shooters. The Luke Kornet contest, explained: Does Celtics center's eclipse The 27-year-old big man is willing to fight for every rebound and bucket. Luke Kornet - NBA News, Rumors, & Updates | FOX Sports Hes been doing it often enough this season that the unusual strategy has caught fans attention and regular highlight clips of opponents failing the Kornet Kontest challenge are being shared to NBA Reddit and Twitter. New Orleans Pelicans big man Jonas Valanciunas gets the best of Kornet on this play, pump-faking him into the air. Kiper's NFL draft grades "I kind of came about it pretty organically. 9 standing reach, and Motley has a 74 wingspan, to Bams 73.5. Losers: Johnathan Motley-yikes, 67 without shoes. One of the reasons for the lull was because Kornet missed five games with a knee injury. He has a new confidence in himself that he didn't have before.". Dubbed the "Kornet Kontest" and even the "Korntest" by appreciative fans and skeptical analysts, it has produced some positive early returns this season even while leaving the Vanderbilt alumnus out of . If he was in a different type of school, things might not have been as pleasant. Some important coaching decisions for first-year coach Joe Mazzulla to make, and what I would do if I were in his shoes. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Still in need of some additional size, Kornet averaged 2.3 rebounds in 15.4 minutes in his first season at Vanderbilt. So, whether you see him as the class clown, the new-age Stromile Swift, or just one of the better third-string bigs in the NBA, Kornet deserves his respect. Grant is the original Stromile of our team, but we share it around., Luke Kornet's celebration was paying homage to Stromile Swift, he gave credit to Grant for doing it first pic.twitter.com/zI7oWaDvMN. On-Off. The 'Kornet Kontest': Luke Kornet's viral defensive move explained - MSN Luke was the salutatorian of his senior class and achieved a perfect score on the math portion of the SAT. Just under 12 feet. Advanced Game Log Frank, who is 6'9", started alongside future Chicago Bulls standout Will Perdue for Vanderbilt's Sweet 16 team in 1988. Boston will almost certainly cut down the rotation, and Kornet will find himself on the outside looking in. This site has no affiliation with the National Basketball Association | Website by, Situational Analysis: Sindarius Thornwell. Take a look at where hes sitting on both of these plays. Throughout 135 career games, Kornet has averaged 5.8 points on .404/.327/.755 shooting splits, 2.6 rebounds, and an assist in 15.1 . G-Lg Stats at Basketball-Reference.com. Luke Kornet has perfectly filled in the gaps for the Celtics - MSN "Even if this helps 1 percent, that's better than nothing.". Gonzaga's bigs will provide an extra challenge.. Kyle Kuzma-69.5 in shoes, nice size if he becomes a 3/4. 1:53; See All. Kornet (ankle) is being listed as probable for Wednesday's matchup with the 76ers, Jay King of The Athletic reports. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. That's why his parents chose to start him in school a year early, meaning he was always the youngest kid in his class. Jason King covers college sports for Bleacher Report. Again, for reference, a couple of players ahead of him are Draymond Green (-4.9%) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (-5.6%). Rather than relying on athleticism, Kornet banks on his wingspan and height to get him in the right position at the right time. That season, Kornet actually played impactful minutes with the Celtics. The Commodores were ranked as high as No. 2016-17. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. On Wednesday he had 10 points, 14 boards and five blocks in a win over Tennessee. "Luke just kept doing it, and he really believed in it. Copyright: ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. I knew he had this in him. The 'Kornet Kontest,' Celtics' center Luke Kornet's atypical defense Kornet, with his 7-foot frame and 7-foot-2 wingspan, has gone with the tactic of simply jumping straight in the air, hands directly over his head, trying to obstruct the shooter's view of the. They really are the same size. Heading into the season, there were some serious questions surrounding the Boston Celtics frontcourt. "That was something that I started doing and I've been told it works," said Kornet. But that hasnt stopped Kornet from coming to work and doing his job at an extremely high level. When asked if it made sense to teach other players this technique, Hardy mentioned the same possible issues with positioning. Gallinaris injury, Williams surgery, and Horfords age thrust him into a larger role. 2013-14. But with only eight other scholarship athletes on the roster, the coach didn't have any choice but to play him. [6], On July 17, 2019, Kornet signed a fully guaranteed two-year contract for $4.5 million with the Chicago Bulls. Void in ONT. . With their history of apathetic play, the Celtics should learn a lesson from the Grizzlies. Find out more. According to his mother, Tracy, Luke's voice didn't change until he was a senior in high school. Williams and Horford are able to fill that role nicely. "I think it's a smart play," Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla told ESPN. 2015-16. 242 pounds to 238 pounds, with Motley having the edge on hand size. 2017 NBA Draft Combine Measurements - NBADraft.net The Boston Celtics center went viral this season for his "Eclipse" or "Kornet Contest," where he . Throughout his stops, he arrived at a conclusion: Opponents can't hit what they can't see. And as the cherry on top, Swift gave the celebration his seal of approval. Still image of what it looks like when Luke Kornet does his - Reddit Kornet (ankle) is available for Wednesday's game against the 76ers, Keith Smith of Spotrac.com reports. With Philadelphias MVP frontrunner battling an injury, the Boston Celtics still need to show up. Weve had different guys out at different times, Kornet said pregame to Celtics.coms Amanda Pflugrad. But when he does, hes ready to go to war for the Celtics. How is Motley a loser and BamHow is Motley a loser and Bam a winner? He was growing taller but his body wasn't kicking in. "And in my opinion he's even better.". That's hard to fathom as you watch 7'1", 245-pound Luke Kornet swish three-pointers and sky hooks while racking up blocks and assists for Vanderbilt, where the junior is one of three Commodores projected to be chosen in either the 2016 or 2017 NBA draft. Man I gotta stop drinking pop. How did he decide this was something he was going to do? They really are . "He's doing a better job knowing when to do it so that it doesn't take him out of defensive position. [10], On October 23, Kornet signed with the Maine Celtics as an affiliate player. Vanderbilt still had a scholarship available, and Stallings offered it to Kornet, who had scheduled an official visit to Kansas State and was preparing to line up more. "You're doing nothing standing here," Hardy said. After a fastbreak alley-oop, Kornet broke out the bird hands. From an on court, practical sense, they're the same size. By those numbers, Kornet has quietly been one of the better defensive centers in the league this season. ", "Then again," she said, "Luke has always been very sure of himself.". BOSTON (CBS) -- Luke Kornet is sticking with the Celtics for training camp, though the stretch big man will likely end up in Maine when the 2021-22 season tips off.