Tag: Luke Kornet

How is the Boston Celtics decision to bring back Luke Kornet seen?

In some corners, it’s being called a ‘no-brainer.’

How is the Boston Celtics decision to bring back backup big man Luke Kornet for their 2024-25 campaign being seen by league analysts? One might think that the Celtics might be seen in a bit of a negative light given there were still a number of free agents some might see as a bigger name Boston could add to their championship roster.

But not everyone thinks that Boston would have been better off looking elsewhere. Bleacher Report thinks “it makes plenty of sense for the Boston Celtics to largely run back the same team” as the one that hung Banner 18, including Kornet. “Al Horford will be back, but Kristaps Porzingis could miss the start of the season after undergoing offseason surgery. “

“That makes depth players such as … Kornet more important, which explains why the Celtics brought him back on a one-year deal,” they add.

“Without seeing the details of this deal, we have to assume it’s for the veteran’s minimum,” writes B/R. “In that case, it’s sort of a no-brainer.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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What do we think about the Boston Celtics bringing back Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta?

Were these two the right men for the job, or did the Celtics err by not looking harder for free agency or trade possibilities?

What do we think about the Boston Celtics bringing back Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta? With news of star Boston big man Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined for at least the next five to six months as he recovers from the surgery to fix that weird injury he picked up in the 2024 NBA Finals, it is clear that Boston will need some big man depth.

But were these two the right men for the job, or did the Celtics err by not looking harder for free agency or trade possibilities? The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took a closer look on a recent episode.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics re-sign Luke Kornet to a one-year deal; what else might be coming?

Even after some early deals got inked, Boston still has a decent amount left to work on.

The Boston Celtics may not be making major moves on the free agency market, but they have re-signed backup big man Luke Kornet to a one-year deal. What else is likely to be coming down the pike?

To take a look, CLNS Media’s “Garden Report” podcast brings you a special free agency edition as the NBA world prepares for big moves across the league. Where will the big names end up? Will the Celtics bring in someone new? Who will they bring back? Even after some early deals got inked, Boston still has a decent amount left to work on.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics sign center Luke Kornet to new contract

The Celtics have reportedly inked Luke Kornet to a new deal at the opening of NBA free agency.

Center Luke Kornet is set to remain a member of the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Kornet is reportedly signing a one-year deal with Boston, avoiding free agency and instead returning to the Celtics as the team looks to defend its title.

Kornet averaged 15.6 minutes per game during the regular season last year as one of Boston’s key reserves. The Vanderbilt alum also shot 70% from the field and was a steady rebounder. Importantly, he also started in 7 games for the Celtics whenever both Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis were sidelined. Given that the latter is set to miss the beginning of the 2024-25 season, Kornet’s flexibility and familiarity with how the team plays will be valuable. In his time with Boston, Kornet has also become something of a fan favorite thanks to his memorable celebrations and post-game press conferences

With Boston’s bloated payroll, the team isn’t likely to make many big splashes in free agency this summer, and re-signing Kornet takes away one of the few unknowns for the Celtics this summer.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Will the Boston Celtics bring back backup big man Luke Kornet in free agency?

If you ask one NBA analyst, it could depend on how the team’s front office feels about another reserve center on the team’s roster.

Will the Boston Celtics bring back backup big man Luke Kornet in free agency? If you ask one NBA analyst, it could depend on how the team’s front office feels about another reserve center on the team’s roster. That analyst would be HoopsHype’s Mark Deeks, who recently wrote up what he thinks of the Vanderbilt alum’s odds of sticking with the ball club he won the 2024 NBA Championship with.

“With the team since February 2022, Kornet’s second stint in Boston has now lasted almost two and a half years, which is enough to qualify him for full Bird rights,” notes Deeks. 

“This might be important, because having reinvented himself away from the modern stretch five archetype he was once thought to embody, Kornet has gotten good.”

“Always a genuine paint deterrent … Kornet has added tremendous offensive efficiency to that, and has proved hardier than it was once supposed he would be given his narrow frame,” adds the HH analyst. “Other quality teams may find a portion of their mid-level exception to use on this quality 7-foot-2 backup.”

“By virtue of having the Bird rights, the Celtics will not need to use a portion of their own to compete with that – however, they may have to choose between him and Tillman, purely for financial reasons.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Luke Kornet reacts to the Boston Celtics winning the 2024 NBA Championship

The Vanderbilt alum had plenty to celebrate!

Backup Boston Celtics big man Luke Kornet may not have had the biggest of roles in the Celtics beating the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the 2024 NBA Finals. But the Vanderbilt alum did provide some key minutes throughout the Celtics’ run to the finals, and was a key part of the journey to hanging Banner 18.

Fellow Vanderbilt big man alum and fellow NBA champ Will Perdue had high praise for Kornet’s role in winning the title on social media after the game, tweeting “Luke, Congratulations on joining a select club of former Vanderbilt Commodores to win an NBA title as a player.”

“Outside of my time at Vanderbilt, winning the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy as a member of the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs was among my most memorable moments as a basketball player,” he added. “Enjoy the moment!”

And as far as we can tell from the CLNS Media clip of Kornet celebrating the title with his teammates on Monday night, that is exactly what he did. Luke Kornet spoke to Bobby Manning in the Celtics’ locker room after Boston won the 2024 NBA championship. 

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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The Green Kornet on the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA FInals

Get caught up on NBA Finals series, the health of Kristaps Porzingis, dancing with Jaylen Brown, and more.

We have not seen too much of the Green Kornet (as backup Boston Celtics big man Luke Kornet is known) in the 2024 NBA Finals, but as a true 7-footer sitting courtside when he is not on the hardwood, the Vanderbilt alum has an excellent view of what’s been going on with the Celtics in this series.

And it was for that reason that CLNS Media reporter Bobby Manning sought out Kornet for an exclusive interview to discuss the Celtics vs. Mavericks NBA Finals series, the health of Kristaps Porzingis, dancing with Jaylen Brown, and the best dancers on the Celtics among several topics of import.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics big-man depth takes a hit ahead of Conference Finals opener

The Boston Celtics will be short-handed at the center position when they face the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday (May 21).

The Boston Celtics will open their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday (May 21). Joe Mazzulla’s team will play the first two games in front of their own crowd after securing the first seed in their conference during the regular season.

However, Mazzulla will be without two big men for Tuesday’s game. Kristaps Porzingis is still recovering from the right soleus strain he suffered when facing the Miami Heat, and Xavier Tillman has been ruled out of contention due to personal reasons. Al Horford and Luke Kornet will be the only bigs available big men heading into the opening game.

Tillman’s absence could be a potential blow for the Celtics. While he hasn’t seen much playing time during the postseason, his ability to switch and guard on the perimeter could have proven useful against a Pacers team that likes to play a five-out offense and attack at pace.

Horford and Kornet are both reliable big men. Mazzulla will undoubtedly lean on both of them as he looks to stifle one of the best offensive teams in the NBA. Whether Tillman gets an opportunity once he returns to the rotation will remain to be seen.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

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Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Luke Kornet is emerging as a prototype for non-shooting bigs

Former All-Star big man Roy Hibbert had high praise for Luke Kornet during a recent podcast appearance.

The Boston Celtics are expected to contend for an NBA championship this season. They currently lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 1-0 in their second-round matchup. Luke Kornet has played a sizeable role in his team’s success this year, operating as the third-string big man in Joe Mazzulla’s rotation.

Despite not being a floor-stretching center, Kornet has found a way to thrive in Mazzulla’s perimeter-based offensive system. His movement, screening, passing, defense and positioning have made him the ideal team-centric big. In a recent edition of ‘The Celtics Chronicle’ podcast, former All-Star big man Roy Hibbert revealed that he’s been showing Richmond’s 7-foot-center Neil Quinn clips of Kornet to help him develop ahead of potentially entering the NBA.

“He asked me, like, ‘Do you think that I can get to do things in the NBA?’” Hibbert said. “I sent him film of Luke Kornet. Just saying, like, literally, you run, you set screens, you have good hands. You know, you move your feet, you can play in this league. This guy is like 6’10, 6’11 kind of athletic, and Kornet can catch lobs and everything like that. [Quinn’s] very physically gifted, but I feel like there is a path to the NBA.”

Kornet, 28, appeared in 63 regular-season games for Boston, averaging 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 70% from the field and 90.7% from the free-throw line. There are worse things to do than to model your game after him.

Once the Celtics season concludes, the front office will have to decide about Kornet, who will be entering unrestricted free agency. Whatever happens, there’s no denying that he’s proven himself capable of being a role-playing bigman in the NBA.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Is this Boston Celtics series vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers a perfect Luke Kornet matchup?

The Cavaliers found themselves challenged by Kornet’s presence.

The Boston Celtics got themselves a blowout 120-95 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series on this past Tuesday (May 7) night to take a 1 – 0 series lead over the Cavs.

Backup Boston big man Luke Kornet played a significant role in the first half of the game, putting up, in 12 minutes of play, 8 rebounds, effectively defending the rim and limiting the Cavaliers’ options inside. The Cavaliers, known for shooting the fewest mid-rangers as a percentage of their shot attempts in the league, found themselves challenged by Kornet’s presence.

Is this series vs. the Cavs a perfect Luke Kornet matchup?

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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