Luke Kornet Jokes He Can Be '1/3 of the Player Tim Duncan Was' with Spurs No. 7 Jersey

As Luke Kornet gets ready to don the San Antonio Spurs' black and silver in jersey No. 7, he couldn’t resist cracking a joke about the legendary big man who once wore No. 21 in San Antonio.

“I hope to be a third of the player Tim Duncan was,” Kornet said with a smile during Monday’s media availability.

Get it? Because seven is a third of 21.

The former Boston Celtics center appeared in 73 games last season, averaging 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 blocks while shooting an efficient 66.8 percent from the field. An eight-year NBA veteran, Kornet played a key role off the bench for the 2024 NBA Champion Celtics and has also spent time with the Knicks and Bulls.

Now 29, Kornet has signed a four-year, $41 million deal with the Spurs, where he’ll serve as a reliable backup to third-year phenom Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio’s frontcourt.