Why Luke Cornett’s ignorance is bliss amid the Spurs’ surge to the top of the West

When is it San Antonio Spurs he added Luke Cornet in NBA free agencythis move was met with general applause. The team’s big man rotation was easily the sore spot. It was honestly the weakest part of their roster once you got past Victor Wembanyama. But what hardly anyone expected was what Cornet’s signature would mean. That includes Cornet.

“I honestly, personally, wasn’t really sure what to expect,” the Spurs center admitted of what this team could do this season.

“I think that’s kind of, honestly, that’s kind of how the season goes,” Cornett continued. “And as much as people like to have their expectations and how it actually plays out or not, it really comes down to game by game and day by day and win by win.”

Whether filling in for or playing alongside Wemby during a generational injury layoff, or even starting as Wembanyama works through minute restrictions, Cornet has proven to be key to San Antonio is racing toward the top of the NBA standings.

“I feel like, overall, as far as results go, we’ve had a good start to the season.”

In the final week of 2025, only the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons have better records than the Spurs.

Luke Cornett shares his thoughts on Spurs’ success

Formerly a Boston Celtic since 2022, uncertain expectations are new for Cornett. Part of four long playoff streaks, including two Finals and an NBA championship, Cornett knows all too well what it means to enter the year with the goal of playing in June.

“Whether it’s a season or the way it works in a playoff series, you realize how much energy, effort and focus it took just to get any single win,” the 30-year-old said. “And there’s really no way to do it but to do it.”

While the Celtics were title contenders during Cornett’s time there, the Spurs are working to get there. Three wins against the defending champion Thunder suggests San Antonio could now be described as a contender, but it’s still unknown how good they are. A a home loss to the struggling Utah Jazz Back-to-back decisive wins against Oklahoma City don’t help the clarity.

“Honestly, I just enjoyed playing with the guys and just doing my part. And, yeah, as far as the court and stuff, it was cool,” Cornett revealed.

Their results suggest Spurs are much closer to winning the title than many thought just a few months ago. For Cornet. it’s part of the process.

“I mean, that’s also the fun part where you’re still figuring it out and you still feel like you’ve got a lot of ways to grow and continue to improve. So it’s a nice challenge to have, a nice thing to focus on.”

It is clear what Cornet and Spurs are thinking about it now. Even if you’d rather not.