In today’s NBA where 3-point shooting has evolved into the center position, Boston Celtics Luke Kornet is gravitating closer to the basket than we’re now accustomed to seeing in the NBA.

Kornet came into the league as an undrafted stretch-five out of Vanderbilt that averaged 3.7 3-point attempts per game in college, totaling 469 for his career, which is more than his two-point attempts (449).

In his first three seasons in the NBA, Kornet took 380 attempts from downtown during his two years in New York (2017-19) and then one in Chicago (2019-20).

By the time Kornet landed in Boston for his first stint in 2021, he attempted 36 shots from behind the arc. He ended up with Maine on a two-way deal and then was signed to multiple 10-Day contracts with Cleveland and Milwaukee before returning back to the Maine Celtics.

When he returned to Maine in 2022, the focus for Boston was to enhance their high pick-and-roll actions with their two-way players at the time in Kornet, Mfiondu Kabengele, and JD Davison.

And to this day, you can see the original framework from Maine when Kornet is on the court in Boston. He runs pick-and-rolls, sets screens, and is always in the right position for offensive rebounds.

Since his return to Boston, Kornet has only attempted 17 3-pointers, which is the lowest in his career. After Boston’s most recent game in Utah, Kornet was asked why he’s taking less 3-pointers and what went into that decision:

Luke Kornet explains how his game has moved away from shooting 3-pointers:

“Umm.. it’s kind of slowly just happened, I feel like now I’m just at the point where I’m in the positions I’m trying to get to and also really kind of embracing offensive rebounding… I’m still open to… pic.twitter.com/QXJQPztmGE

— The Celtics Files (@CelticsFiles) March 13, 2024

Last season, Kornet averaged 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game. He’s carved a role for himself as an adequate backup to Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.

Kornet has been a star in his role for the Celtics and he’s now a champion with the team that’s brought him back for two different stints.

Moving forward, Boston will need Kornet to be able to space the floor by readjusting his game back towards the 3-point line. I believe he still is running Boston’s high pick-and-roll scheme when Ime Udoka was the head coach.

He only attempted one shot from behind the arc last season, it was the lowest on the team with only Neemias Queta behind him with not shooting any but he’s not known as a floor spacer in that way.

Xavier Tillman, acquired at the trade deadline, even shot more than Kornet from deep in only 20 games with Boston- attempting 28 from deep.

Boston’s new way of playing under head coach Joe Mazzulla needs spacing from the big men and an easy way of doing that is by pulling opposing bigs out of the paint with you’re own bigs from behind the arc.

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Photo Credit: Wilfredo Lee, AP Photo