Player Name: LUGUENTZ (LU) DORT
Team: OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Years Pro: 2
Draft: 2019, Undrafted
Number of Top Shot Moments: 8
Fun Fact: A defensive specialist, Dort has drawn the most offensive fouls of any player in the NBA this season.
This is #2 in a series where I will highlight some of the best young players in the NBA to add to your Top Shot collection who you might not have heard much about. No, I’m not talking about your Lebrons, your Lukas, or your Currys, I’m talking about emerging stars whose popularity should only continue to rise in the years to come.
Luguentz Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder never takes his foot off the pedal. He’s an undrafted, 2nd year player coming out of Arizona State. His defense is what really got him on the map, when he guarded 2018 MVP James Harden in the Western Conference First Round Playoffs in the Orlando Bubble.
During the Orlando Bubble, when Dort first began to attract some national attention, he was a mess offensively. He was being left open consistently from the three-point arc and was hitting very few of them. That is until the biggest game basketball has to offer, Game 7 of that First Round series against Houston, when Dort went off for 30 points, hitting 6 three pointers, despite a Thunder loss. Ever since that magical Game 7, Dort has never looked back.
Now in his Sophomore Season, Dort has continued to improve his offensive game, as he is shooting 34% from three while averaging a solid 14 points per game, compared to 29% on threes while averaging only a little under 7 points as a rookie. He’s still only 21 years old, so if he keeps on progressing at anywhere near as steady of a rate, he’ll easily become an elite three-point shooter along with his already incredible defense.
My favorite moment of Dort’s can currently be had for as little as $3, due to the 40,000 in circulation. It’s a three-point buzzer-beating game winner against the San Antonio Spurs. I’m not sure it’ll be the best moment if you’re just looking to invest in Dort Stock, unless you are able to find a low serial number. So, I’ll suggest a second one if you’re just looking to flip him later. That’s a dunk from Dort’s rookie season against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which only has 1,535 in circulation and is his Top Shot Debut Moment.
The Dort play I would like to see minted into NBA Top Shot the most (#NBATopShotThis) would have to be Dort’s game winning block against the Houston Rockets of former All-Star John Wall. It’s an incredible hustle play that really shows the reason Dort’s going to be a popular player moving forward.
Lu Dort is continuing to pick up more and more traction in the NBA. Not only is he getting better every day, but he’s becoming known throughout the league for his active defense and his improved shooting. There’s no reason he shouldn’t go on to become one of the more fun and memorable players to add to your collection.
