Spurs’ not-so-secret weapon gives them a massive playoff advantage

The red-hot San Antonio Spurs have been the talk of the NBA of late, with them exceeding expectations at every turn. Part of their success has been the underrated play of backup center Luke Kornet.

It's safe to say that he was easily the most impactful signing of free agency last summer, and the Spurs clearly got a steal. In fact, he's played a much larger role than many expected.

That's thanks to early injuries and former Spur Jeremy Sochan falling out of the rotation before eventually being waived.

To Kornet's credit, he has thrived in whatever role he's been asked to play. As a starter, the Spurs are 18-2 with him averaging a solid 8.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 25.9 minutes.

Off the bench, he's solved their biggest problem, which is backup center, while also giving them a secret playoff weapon.

Luke Kornet is the Spurs' secret weapon come playoff time.

Kornet might not put up monster numbers, but his impact extends beyond traditional stats. That's why playoff opponents might overlook him.

Kornet ranks as one of the best screeners in the NBA, with him ranking fifth in screen assists per game. That's an underrated skill that can help teams create space in the half-court.

It's also something that's been missing from the Spurs since they traded Jakob Poeltl to the Toronto Raptors. In fact, I'd venture to guess that's one of the reasons why Kornet has been so successful in San Antonio.

He filled a clear need that even Wembanyama can't. Setting strong screens has been crucial to freeing up De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper to get to the rim.

It also frees up shooters off-ball. Those strong screens have also helped Kornet become a terrific roll man, giving the Silver and Black vertical spacing. This allows San Antonio to maintain a presence in the paint without him clogging the driving lanes.

Luke Kornet is more than just a traditional big man

What's been more surprising is that he's been effective as a lob threat. Thus far, Kornet has skied for 48 alley-oops, with Castle and Fox often setting him up.

Perhaps equally vital to his value is his offensive rebounding. He leads the team in rebounds per game and has been an absolute monster on the glass.

Having someone who can rustle up extra possessions is valuable in and of itself but also helps San Antonio defensively. Teams can't get out and transition if they don't have the ball, and Kornet being active on the offensive glass keeps opponents from running on the Spurs.

That's impressive considering San Antonio ranks 12th in pace but just 29th in opponent transition possessions. Simply put, teams have to score in the half court against San Antonio. With players such as Wembanyama, Castle, and Kornet, that's been like pulling teeth.

His postseason experience and all those skills will be valuable during the playoffs. He gives the Spurs both matchup and lineup versatility. If Wembanyama gets injured or is in foul trouble, the Spurs can seamlessly switch to Kornet.

If they need him to play alongside Wembanyama against big teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves or Oklahoma City Thunder, Kornet can do that too. That makes him the Spurs’ not-so-secret weapon.