Luke Kornet already proving why perfect free agent signing was crucial for Spurs

It's been a long road to get back to competent backup center play, but we've arrived. Luke Kornet showed himself to be a revelation during the preseason, and he's continued to display how important he'll be for the Spurs since the real games have begun. Last night's overtime slugfest was the perfect game for San Antonio's new big man, and they likely wouldn't have come out on top without him.

Victor Wembanyama did what he does. He balled out. The French superstar put up another jaw-dropping stat line with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and nine blocks (that should have been 10). Unfortunately, he also had six fouls and was ejected from the extra quarter with 4:17 left on the clock. They don't win that game last season, but they didn't have a 7'1", 250-pound backup plan then.

Kornet is only scratching the surface

Luke gave the Spurs 14 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and blocked a shot. He shot 67% from the floor, and nine of his boards came on the offensive end. The man was tremendous. I don't expect him to do much more than that at any point while he's with the Spurs, but I do expect his value to increase when De'Aaron Fox comes back.

That massive frame is perfect for screening. We've seen it already in pick-and-rolls with Wemby, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. But Fox is the one who will benefit from them the most. He's the most polished PnR player on the team, so having such a reliable screener is an asset for him.

Kornet is also fantastic at following the ballhandler to the paint, so he's always going to be in the perfect position for Fox to drop the ball off if he needs the outlet. Swipa's speed forces defenses to collapse, forcing them out of position, and that will open up the opportunity for offensive rebounds for the Vanderbilt alum.

D. Fox and Vic will be the main attraction, but Fox's partnership with Kornet will also be a dangerous weapon for the Spurs. Like Gabe said, we're seeing the impact of having a legitimate backup center. He came in during a time of need and played his tail off, holding his own against a bulldozer like Zion Williamson. He played 34 minutes last night, and San Antonio needed every one of them.

Zach Collins is currently out of the Bulls' lineup as he recovers from wrist surgery. We wish him a speedy recovery. We wish him well in his career. But man, are we glad we have Luke Kornet now.