By Jeph Duarte | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2025-12-30 12:00:00
从马刺队的角度来看，卢克·科内特 (Luke Kornet) 是一个绝佳的选择。作为一名具备挡拆能力的护筐手，他与斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle)（被恰如其分地戏称为“白色城堡”）之间的连线，为球迷们奉献了诸多赏心悦目的扣篮。
上赛季，当维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 因深静脉血栓而缺阵时，马刺队遭受了沉重打击。在扎克·科林斯 (Zach Collins) 被交易至芝加哥公牛，而查尔斯·贝西 (Charles Bassey) 又因内侧副韧带伤病持续困扰而赛季大部分时间缺席后，马刺队签下了俾斯麦·比永博 (Bismack Biyombo) 作为球队唯一的内线大个。
今年夏天，马刺队以一份4年4100万美元的合同签下了卢克·科内特，这最初引起了一些马刺球迷的担忧。但没过多久，人们就开始欣赏科内特为球队带来的价值。他在队中的老将角色、NBA总决赛经验以及他的幽默感，都让他赢得了队友和球迷的喜爱。
但最有力的证明，是本赛季当维克托·文班亚马因小腿拉伤缺阵时，马刺队所取得的成就。在文班缺阵的一个月里，马刺队取得了9胜3负的战绩，这部分要归功于科内特的存在。
对科内特而言，他的篮球之路并非总是铺满赞誉与欢乐。正如《体育新闻》在本月早些时候报道的那样，在重新找回球场上的乐趣之前，科内特几乎要彻底告别这项运动。
“我职业生涯初期的一个目标，就是成为NBA最强的投射型五号位。”
在取得了成功的四年大学生涯，并展现出强大的盖帽能力和三分精准度之后，科内特与纽约尼克斯队签约，希望成为下一个布鲁克·洛佩斯 (Brook Lopez)。
两年后，科内特发现自己在芝加哥迷失了方向。伤病（包括一次未被诊断出的鼻梁骨折）、丢失的三分球手感，以及在防守端被迫拉到外线，都阻碍了他的成长。在一笔三方交易中，他作为薪金添头被送往波士顿凯尔特人，并最终被下放到G联赛。
“我当时严肃得有些不正常，在感受到人们的压力和期望时，我没能真正做自己。当我去了芝加哥，然后又到了缅因（G联赛球队所在地），那感觉就像是最后一次机会。我想，‘让我们看看还能不能挽回这一切。’”
科内特曾短暂考虑过彻底告别篮球。但他最终选择拥抱自己热爱玩乐的个性——这种个性在他12月3日封盖弗朗茨·瓦格纳 (Franz Wagner) 的压哨投篮，并随后复制文斯·卡特 (Vince Carter) 在2000年的经典庆祝姿势时，得到了淋漓尽致的展现。他的幽默感也通过他选择的球衣号码，一同被带到了圣安东尼奥。
科内特选择了7号，因为7是蒂姆·邓肯 (Tim Duncan) 球衣号码21的三分之一。他希望通过这种方式，能成为像邓肯那样“三分之一出色的球员”。
新晋#Spurs大个子卢克·科内特开玩笑说，他选择7号是因为他想成为蒂姆·邓肯三分之一那么出色的球员。
他还补充说，他很喜欢倍数和因数。pic.twitter.com/ygvu93g2nE
— Nate Ryan (@ nateryansports) July 7, 2025
在将乐趣重新带回自己的篮球生涯后，他放弃了那个曾希望用来定义职业生涯的三分球，转而将自己重新塑造成一名可靠的掩护顺下扣篮手。在防守端，凯尔特人也开始让他更多地留在篮下附近。
这些改变奏效了，重新点燃了科内特对自己和比赛的信念，并将他重新提升到凯尔特人更重要的轮换阵容中。波士顿夺冠提升了科内特的知名度，也让他与马刺的签约成为了夏天的头条新闻。许多专家都宣称马刺队是自由球员市场的赢家。
自从那次惊人的制胜封盖之后，马刺队发现科内特的T恤衫一直供不应求。他已是名副其实的球迷宠儿。
昨晚，当马刺队进行赛前热身时，科内特的头像出现在现场大屏幕上，全场爆发出热烈的欢呼。这反映了他已经出色地融入了圣安东尼奥，也反映了他整个职业生涯的成功适应。
无论是作为维克托·文班亚马的替补，还是作为首发，抑或是与他搭档组成“法式香草”组合，卢克·科内特都在球场上证明了自己。向他的球队、向球迷，也向他自己证明了自己。
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：Open Thread: How Luke Kornet hit rock bottom and rebuilt himself in time to enjoy the NBA
Open Thread: How Luke Kornet hit rock bottom and rebuilt himself in time to enjoy the NBA
From a Spurs point of view, Luke Kornet is an excellent fit. A rim protector with pick-and-roll capabilities, his connections with Stephon Castle (aptly nicknamed “White Castle”) supply crowd-pleasing dunks.
Last season, when Victor Wembanyama was sidelined with deep vein thrombosis, the Spurs took a hit. Zach Collins had been traded to the Chicago Bulls and Charles Bassey out most of the season with a lingering MCL injury, the Spurs signed Bismack Biyombo as the lone big man to the team.
This summer, the Spurs signed Luke Kornet to a 4-year/$41M contract, initially concerning some Spurs fans. It did not take long to appreciate what Kornet brings to the table. His veteran role on the team, NBA Finals experience, and his sense of humor have all endeared him to his team as well as the fans.
But the biggest proof was what the Spurs were able to accomplish when Victor Wembanyama was sidelined this season with a calf strain. The Spurs, in part to Kornet’s presence, maintained a 9-3 record in the month without Wemby.
The road for Kornet was not always paved with praise and happiness. As The Sporting News reported earlier this month, Kornet almost walked away from the game entirely before finding joy on the court again.
“One of my goals at the start of my career was to be the best shooting five in the NBA.”
After a successful four-year collegiate career loaded with blocks and three-point acuity, Kornet signed with the New York Knicks with hopes of becoming the next Brook Lopez.
Two years later, Kornet found himself out of place in Chicago. Injuries (including an undiagnosed broken nose), a lost three-point touch, and a defensive move to the perimeter all hindered his growth. He was sent the Boston Celtics as salary filler in a three-team trade, eventually landing in the G-League.
“I was unhealthily serious and not really myself with it in terms of also feeling pressure and expectation from people. When I went to Chicago and then to Maine, this was kind of like a last chance kind of thing. Let’s see if we can make this happen.”
For a brief time, Kornet considered walking away from basketball altogether. Instead, he embraced his fun-loving personality, the exact sort of characteristic he showcased on December 3rd when he blocked Franz Wagner’s buzzer attempt and then replicated Vince Carter’s 2000 pose. His sense of humor also came to San Antonio in the form of his choice of jersey number.
Kornet chose 7 because it is one-third of 21, Tim Duncan’s number. In doing so, he hoped to be “one-third the player” Tim Duncan was.
Newest #Spurs big man Luke Kornet cracks that he chose #7 because he wants to be a third of the player Tim Duncan was.
Added that he loves multiples & factors. pic.twitter.com/ygvu93g2nE
— Nate Ryan (@ nateryansports) July 7, 2025
After bringing fun back into his process, he abandoned the very three-point shot he’d hoped to define his career and reestablished himself as a viable screen and roll dunker. Defensively, the Celtics began to keep him closer to the rim.
The changes worked, rejuvenated Kornet’s belief in himself and his game, and elevated him back into the a larger rotation role with the Celtics. Boston won a title increasing Kornet’s visibility, making his signing with the Spurs headline summer news. Many pundits declared the Spurs winners of the free agency.
Since his stellar game-saving block, the Spurs have struggled to keep up with the demand for Kornet t-shirts. He’s a bonafide fan favorite.
Last night, as the Spurs were warming up, Kornet received a large ovation when his image was broadcast on the Jumbotron, a reflection of how well he has acclimated in San Antonio and in his career overall.
Whether a backup to Victor Wembanyama, a starter, or in tandem as French Vanilla, Luke Kornet has proven himself on the court. To his team, to fans and to himself.
By Jeph Duarte, via Pounding The Rock