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Pelicans’ Newcomers Have Made A Minimal Contribution So Far

Dylan Sanders of Yahoo Sports looks at the impact of Pelicans’ offseason additions Bennedict Mathurin, who has been an awkward fit so far, and Trendon Watford, who saw his first game action Thursday night. AJ Johnson is also new to…

By Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors

Published: Saturday, 31 October 2026 at 11:13 PM

Key Things to Know

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson defended Luke Kornet amid criticism over the backup center's early-season struggles.
Kornet is averaging 2.4 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 36.4 percent through five games.
Coach Johnson stated that teammates playing alongside Kornet must improve rather than placing sole blame on him.

The Story in 60 Seconds

San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson defended center Luke Kornet following a slow start to the season, as reported by Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. Kornet has seen his production drop over the first five games, averaging 2.4 points and 3.6 rebounds, leading some fans to advocate for rookie first-round pick Tarris Reed Jr. to take his minutes.

Johnson emphasized that the surrounding lineup needs to perform better alongside Kornet, noting that comparisons to Victor Wembanyama can unfairly exacerbate criticism. Kornet remains under contract through next season, with San Antonio also holding a $9.35 million team option for the 2028-29 campaign.

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Pelicans’ Newcomers Have Made A Minimal Contribution So Far

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