San Antonio Spurs Sign NBA Champion to Back Up Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs entered the 2025 NBA offseason with two clear areas of need: improve their 3-point shooting and get a backup center to provide some insurance in non-Victor Wembanyama minutes.

By drafting Carter Bryant, the Spurs added a wing, and on the first day of free agency, they signed center Luke Kornet to a four-year, $41 million contract.

Kornet averaged six points, 5.3 rebounds, and a block last season for the Boston Celtics while shooting 66.8 percent from the floor. 

Undrafted in 2017, Kornet has played for the Celtics, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks. The $41 million is by far the biggest deal he has ever signed, and he will likely play the biggest role of his career in San Antonio.

The Spurs, with Wembanyama off the court, were one of the worst teams in the NBA, regardless of who was on the court in his absence. With a full season of De'Aaron Fox on the way and Wemby returned from his blood clot issue, the Spurs should hit the ground running next season, and have fixed arguably their biggest hole in the roster.

The Spurs had also been linked to Clint Capela and Brook Lopez, and by adding Kornet will likely not sign fan-favorite Sandro Mamukelashvili to another contract, as he entered unrestricted free agency.

The Spurs have also been linked to forward Guerschon Yabusele, who played next to Wembanyama on the French National Team before signing a "prove it" deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. He is expected to be a top free agent this summer.

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