Luka Kornet has blocked 356 shots in his nine-year NBA career. On Monday, he managed to block an entire game.
One week after Kornet posted about his opposition to the Atlanta Hawks’ March 16 in-arena event honoring the Magic City strip club, the NBA announced it was cancelling the promotion. While NBA commissioner Adam Silver said there were concerns from a “broad array of NBA stakeholders,” the San Antonio Spurs’ backup center’s blog got the ball rolling.
Luke Kornet delivered his greatest ‘Kornet Kontest’
Kornet’s signature basketball innovation is a technique he calls “The Eclipse” or the “Kornet Kontest.” While playing for the Boston Celtics, Kornet began contesting shots by leaping straight up, regardless of how close he was to the shooter. The idea wasn’t to block shots as much as it was to block the shooter’s view of the rim.
Similarly, Kornet’s anti-Magic City essay seems to have altered the public perception of the Hawks’ planned event. The game against the Orlando Magic was going to feature a live podcast with Hawks owner Jami Gertz, Atlanta rapper T.I. and Magic City founder, Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney.
The event wasn’t going to feature any dancers from the club, just limited-edition “Magic City” hoodies for sale, along with the club’s signature wings — one flavor which was named after former Hawks Sixth Man of the Year winner Lou Williams. T.I. was also scheduled to perform at halftime.
In the past week, former Hawk Al Horford endorsed Kornet’s sentiments, and a national debate arose about whether a night honoring a strip club was contrary to the NBA’s desire for a family-friendly atmosphere. Kornet thought the night was disrespectful to many of the NBA’s female employees.
The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world. We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.
Adam Silver stepped in to stop the Magic City promotion
The NBA commissioner seemed to agree with Kornet, or at least was swayed by the conversation critical of the event.
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