Spurs players defend Luke Kornet amid slow start to season

San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson and teammates are defending Luke Kornet after a challenging start to the season. Kornet has averaged 2.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks over five games, a significant drop from his previous season's averages of 6.5 points and 6.1 rebounds. In a recent overtime victory against the Utah Jazz, Kornet scored just one point on 0-of-2 shooting. Johnson emphasized that Kornet's performance is influenced by the play of his teammates and not solely on him. Keldon Johnson echoed this sentiment, noting the collaborative nature of defense and the importance of team effort. The Spurs coach remains committed to giving Kornet opportunities despite calls for rookie Tarris Reed Jr. to receive more playing time.

• 3:32 PMYahoo Sports — Coach, teammates defend Spurs' Kornet in face of sub-par numbers