Luke Kornet Embraces LeBron James Comparison After Key Block in Spurs' Game 7 Victory

Taking on the role of Victor Wembanyama's substitute is no easy task, but Luke Kornet has stepped up admirably throughout the season. He had his moment in the spotlight during the San Antonio Spurs' thrilling Game 7 victory on Saturday.

With just 6:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Spurs were clinging to a six-point lead when Wembanyama was sidelined due to his fifth foul. As the Oklahoma City Thunder began to gain momentum, Kornet entered the game. After a risky pass from Spurs rookie Dylan Harper was intercepted by Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein, it appeared he had an open lane to score. However, Kornet, standing at an impressive 7 feet 1 inch and weighing 250 pounds, sprinted down the court to deliver a spectacular chasedown block.

Following Kornet's pivotal defensive play, the Thunder never managed to close the gap to fewer than six points, and Wembanyama re-entered the game shortly thereafter. Kornet's block proved to be a game-changing moment, effectively halting Oklahoma City's last significant effort to mount a comeback. The intensity of the moment led to comparisons with LeBron James, particularly recalling James' iconic block on Andre Iguodala in the 2016 NBA Finals. Kornet humorously acknowledged the comparison, revealing, “I did a poor job of getting the catch, so then I had to redeem myself. Someone from the bench yelled, ‘Who is it? LeBron James?’ We’ll see which one has more staying power in the record books of history.”

In a game that highlighted the talents of both Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, Kornet's block stood out as one of the series' defining plays. As an undrafted player who has navigated through five different teams before joining the Spurs last summer on a four-year, $41 million contract, Kornet averaged 6.5 points and 6.1 rebounds over 68 games this season, including 25 starts.