Luke Cornett, Spurs use NBA Cup ‘roadblocks’ to stake playoff aspirations

LAS VEGAS — It’s always hard to leave everything you’ve been through for a few years and move on to something new. That’s what San Antonio Spurs center Luke Cornet experienced over the past six months, as he left the Boston Celtics — with whom he won a championship in 2024 — to embark on a new journey.

This 30-year-old big man was ready for a change, not only in his career, but also in his life. His time going from a G League development player with the Maine Celtics to being a focal point in Boston’s top rotation and part of a championship team allowed him to realize that now was the right time to become a mentor and leader to a young, hungry Spurs team in the rising Western Conference.

“I definitely feel like it’s a different part of life and career,” Cornett told ClutchPoints in Las Vegas ahead of NBA Cup championship on Tuesday. “Overall, I feel like I’m in a different place in my career now. It’s about wanting more responsibility, and with a generally younger team, I accept being someone who can help my teammates because I’ve been in their shoes.”

“Becoming a member of Spurs was definitely a personal transition for me, not only on the pitch, but also in terms of me and my family life.

Cornett’s experience with the Celtics and his leadership have already helped pave the way for immediate success in San Antonio.

After defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119 in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, the Spurs advanced to Las Vegas to face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who entered Saturday night with a 24-1 record. This is the first time Cornett has reached the NBA Finals in Las Vegas, and like many of his teammates, he has embraced what this moment means to the organization.

“It’s been great. It’s been a lot of fun here in Las Vegas. And, obviously, it’s a pretty different atmosphere than the rest of the NBA season that we’re used to,” Cornett said. “You have to be able to play in these neutral-site games against these top teams, and it’s very reminiscent of high school and college. It really feels like something different than the general regular season games. It’s definitely something we’ve all enjoyed being a part of.”

All the pomp and circumstance that comes with advancing to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas was nice for the Spurs and Cornett, but there were bigger ambitions, especially with Oklahoma City on the agenda.

For all the talk surrounding the Thunder’s pursuit of back-to-back titles and their pursuit of the NBA record for wins in a single season, the Spurs also entered this NBA Cup semifinal battle with a goal of their own: to prove to the NBA that they should be taken seriously in a loaded Western Conference.

The The Spurs eliminated the Thunder 111-109 in an emotional, hard-fought game on Saturday night, and they led the way Victor Vembanyamawho returned from a calf injury that sidelined him for nearly a month. Vembanjama’s return from the bench and alongside Cornet allowed Spurs to be a complete team for the first time all season, allowing them to start building on their success.

“We were very happy to have Victor back, and obviously he’s a big part of what we’re doing,” Cornett said. “His energy from the first moment he signed on gave us a lot of fight. Obviously there are certain games that you know are going to have a certain level of competitiveness. To be able to compete against the best, like the Thunder, with these high stakes is an opportunity you don’t take for granted.

“Our mindset of being the best version of ourselves has been consistent all year, and that win against OKC supports the hard work we’ve been putting in.”

The Spurs are using the NBA Cup Finals as early playoff ambitions

While the Spurs’ win over the Thunder counts as any other regular season win when looking at the schedule and the standings, this was no ordinary victory for Cornet and San Antonio.

It was clear that handing the Thunder their second loss of the season meant a lot to this young Spurs team, and that was evident as soon as the final buzzer sounded and Victor Wembanyama screamed to his bench.

Cornett and everyone else responded by running onto the floor at T-Mobile Arena to celebrate the victory with their 21-year-old star, a moment that represented another obstacle in San Antonio’s road to victory.

“This win meant a lot to us. Everyone talks about the playoffs and looking ahead, and while it’s a little hard to project that far, this game sets the stage for us to continue to grow,” Cornett explained. “We’re focused on getting our full group back and see what happens when we finally have that. Different guys come in at different times and we’re focused on growing as a complete unit so we can meet the different challenges that come between now and the end of the season.

“Being able to hit all the different obstacles, playing against all the different teams that present different threats and challenges in this NBA Cup and finding ways to respond to those obstacles makes us a better team.”

As good as Wembanjama was with 22 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench, every player who checked into the Spurs game made a difference.

De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell combined for 67 points. Dylan Harper provided added energy and production off the bench with his pesky defense and high IQ ball movement at guard. Cornett, who started the game at center, had a total of eight rebounds, five of which came on the offensive side of the court.

While he may not be one of the Spurs’ go-to scoring options, Cornett understands his role as a secondary facilitator and one of the best offensive rebounders in the league. His ability to create second scoring chances allows guys like Wembanyama, Fox, Castle and others to capitalize on their opponent’s mistakes, which is directly related to Spurs’ overall versatility.

“To really rise to the top as a team, you have to be versatile and know how to respond to all different situations. That’s what we strive for and we want to make it difficult for our opponents to know what we’re throwing at them every night. It’s about believing in what we can do and continuing to build on it.”

There’s no denying that the NBA Cup brought out the best in the Spurs.

Their win over the Thunder was arguably the biggest statement any team in the NBA has made to this point in the 2025-26 season, and now the Spurs get a chance to contend for the trophy in what will look like a big playoff matchup. With the stakes higher and a major championship coming into the season, Cornett sees this moment as a springboard for the Spurs to begin their playoff journey.

“The reality of playing for something more meaningful and the NBA Cup breaking away from that feeling in the regular season creates a sense of urgency that you experience in the postseason,” Cornett said as he reflected on his team’s journey leading up to the NBA Cup championship game. “You can’t simulate a playoff series during the regular season, but having the opportunity to play those kinds of games is something you can’t just make up and replace.”

“It certainly creates a playoff-like feel, which will be invaluable in the future.”

The NBA Cup championship provides an opportunity for the Spurs, Cornet

The stage is set for Knicks and Spurs to fight let’s see who will win this season’s NBA Cup Championship. For the third time since his arrival, the NBA Cup will belong to a new team, and the Spurs’ desire to win this year’s tournament means more than the trophy or prize money that comes with a potential win on Tuesday night.

Of course, money certainly means something to many players, especially those without big contracts, but Cornett didn’t entertain the idea of ​​adding an extra $530,000 to his bank account because winning this game means more than any amount of money to the Spurs as a whole.

“I’m not really sure,” Cornett admitted when asked what he would use the NBA Cup prize money for. “I’ve been joking with my wife and kids about it since we’ve been gone for the last three weeks, but obviously Christmas is coming up and there’s a lot of presents I need to get! I honestly don’t know. The money is a great incentive and reward, but for us as a team, we’re focused on going game by game and being able to experience playing time and being ready to experience different environments.”

“Still, I don’t have as much ambition with the prize money as the other guys. Maybe I’ll figure that out after we win.”

Like the Spurs, the Knicks enter Tuesday night’s championship game as another team looking to use a momentous victory as a springboard for their own championship aspirations. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are multiple All-Stars leading the way for New York, and this team is assembled with the core mindset of competing for a spot in the 2026 NBA Finals.

However, the Knicks are just another team for Cornett and San Antonio. No team in the league was better than Oklahoma City, and in their first opportunity to face them this season, with The Spurs pulled off a huge, eye-opening win.

Tuesday night’s NBA Cup championship game may not count in the record books or as a the real one game on both teams’ schedules, but this is one more chance, one last chance, for the Spurs to use the NBA Cup as the foundation of their playoff dreams.

“As good as the Thunder are, they present different problems than, say, the Lakers or another team in the West, like Denver or Houston. Even the Knicks present different challenges than OKC, so every game is a stepping stone for us to grow as a team,” Cornett said. “We have to be very disciplined and committed for 48 minutes on Tuesday. That would give us the best chance to win.”

“This game means a lot to us and we want to win to prove that we need to be taken as seriously as some of these other playoff-like teams. I’m very confident in our ability to win another game here in Las Vegas.”