More often than not, the superstars shine in the playoffs—especially in a winner-takes-all Game 7 Western Conference Final matchup. Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, De’Aaron Fox, and Julian Champagnie were the highlights after the San Antonio Spurs eliminated the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. However, it was the last guy on the bench, fan-favorite big man Luke Kornet, who made a surprising play in crunch time that may have swung the momentum toward the Spurs—and most fans are saying the same thing.
The “Game-Saving” Block
Maybe calling it game-saving is too much, but Kornet’s huge chasedown block on Isaiah Hartenstein with six minutes left in the fourth quarter of a deciding Game 7 was definitely a momentum breaker for Oklahoma and perhaps the spark that led to San Antonio’s closing run. At that point, the Spurs were only up by six points, and with plenty of time left in regulation, it was still anybody’s ball game.
The French Vanilla’s epic hustle play reverberated throughout Paycom Arena, and some viewers even called it the “dagger” that saved the Spurs’ season.
Kornet only made a brief appearance in Game 7 but made all of his six minutes count. Wembanyama might have won the Western Conference Finals MVP, while Castle, Harper, Champagnie, Johnson, Fox, and Vassell all showed up to dismantle OKC—but this win wouldn’t have been possible without Kornet and his chasedown block.
Luke Kornet’s Role in San Antonio
The 30-year-old journeyman has been steady as a backup center for Wembanyama in his first year with the Spurs. He is not new to pressure situations, having already won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024.
Unfortunately, despite being a beloved player, Kornet has faced criticism throughout the NBA playoffs—particularly in the series against the Thunder—due to the team’s struggles when he steps on the floor. His diminished playing time in the postseason is a clear indicator of that. Kornet is often an easy target because of his offensive limitations, but he still provides quality support for Wembanyama whenever the 22-year-old superstar needs a breather.
