San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet has officially joined the bidding war for star free agent LeBron James, putting out a Medium blog post this past Friday in response to reports that James' agent, Rich Paul, was asking teams for voice memo pitches. Kornet even linked to a video recording of his own unique voice memo.
You Can't Make This Stuff Up: Kornet's Pitch Hits Different
Kornet didn't hold back, introducing himself in the voice memo as the player James "yelled at a little bit" during the 2025 NBA Cup quarterfinals. What a way to break the ice! He went all-in, pitching James on the chance to play alongside both him and Victor Wembanyama. Kornet even joked, saying, "You can play alongside a generational player, and Victor too." He also threw in other perks like "a lot of young talent, an easy place to live, tax-free, that's always something." And hey, who wouldn't want SeaWorld, La Panadería, and Kornet's guest room? On the championship front, Kornet sealed the deal with, "You're chasing No. 5, and we've got five. Looking for No. 6, so we're kind of all in the same ballpark."Is This a Real Shot or Just a Hilarious Hail Mary?
While Kornet's pitch is pure gold, the actual likelihood of the Spurs landing LeBron is way more complicated. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Rich Paul has spoken to 27 teams, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers emerging as frontrunners. Plus, NBA insiders Jake Fischer and Marc Stein have reported that the Spurs are *not* expected to pursue James after signing Tobias Harris. But hold up, there's a twist! ESPN's Bobby Marks confirms the Spurs still have access to the veteran minimum exception after the Harris signing. Charania previously reported James would be willing to take that kind of deal to play for a contender. So, Kornet could be hoping to keep the Spurs in the race as a dark-horse candidate to sign James this offseason. So, even with the official word that the Spurs aren't expected to pursue, Kornet's bold, hilarious voice memo keeps a fascinating "dark-horse" scenario alive. Will LeBron consider the veteran minimum to join a contender with generational talent and a tax-free living? The free agency show is far from over, and we'll be waiting to see if Kornet's pitch, against all odds, moves the needle for the King.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.