Luguentz Dort

 

Luguentz “Lu” Dort (born April 19, 1999) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighing 220 pounds (100 kg), Dort plays shooting guard and small forward.

 

He played one season of college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils before going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft. Dort signed with the Thunder as an undrafted free agent and is currently the longest-tenured player on the team. He won his first NBA championship in 2025 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team the same year.

 

Early Life 

High School Career

 

Dort was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. As a sophomore, he transferred to Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Florida, to face better competition and learn English. Before moving; his coach Nelson Ossé urged him to improve his poor academic performance.

 

In August 2016, Dort averaged 11.3 points through six games to lead Canada to second place at adidas Nations. Later that month, he was named MVP of the Nike Americas Team Camp All-Star game. Dort moved to Conrad Academy in Orlando, Florida, for his junior season, following his former Arlington Country Day coach, Shaun Wiseman. In 2017, he scored 30 points to win team MVP honors at the BioSteel All-Canadian Basketball Game. On October 18, 2017, he committed to Arizona State, becoming the program’s most touted recruit since James Harden in 2007.

 

College Career

 

At his lone season in Arizona State (2018-19), Dort started all 34 games and averaged 16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He collected 547 total points (sixth-most in the Pac-12) and led the Sun Devils in three-pointers (54), free throws (145), and steals (52). Dort was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, All-Pac-12 Second Team, and All-Pac-12 Defensive Team. He helped Arizona State reach the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

 

Following the tournament loss, Dort declared for the 2019 NBA Draft, forgoing three years of eligibility.

 

NBA Career

Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-present) 

Undrafted Journey and Breakthrough (2019–2020)

 

After going undrafted on June 20, 2019, Dort signed a two-way contract with Oklahoma City. He made his NBA debut on December 6, 2019, playing seven minutes in an overtime win against Minnesota. On January 29, 2020, he scored a then-career-high 23 points against Sacramento.

 

In the 2020 playoffs, Dort gained national recognition for his elite defense on James Harden during a seven-game first-round series. He was described as “the highest-effort defensive player in the NBA” by at least one measure. On June 24, 2020, the Thunder signed Dort to a four-year, $5.4 million contract.

 

Rise to Prominence (2020–2025)

 

On April 13, 2021, Dort scored a career-high 42 points with seven three-pointers against Utah. Only Kevin Durant scored more points before turning 22 in Thunder/SuperSonics franchise history. Dort became the fifth Canadian to score 40+ points in a game, joining Steve Nash, Andrew Wiggins, Jamal Murray, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

 

On July 6, 2022, after declining his team option, Dort re-signed on a five-year, $87.5 million contract. On November 3, 2023, he scored 29 points on 6-of-6 shooting from three-point range in a loss to Golden State.

 

On June 22, 2025, Dort captured his first NBA championship as the Thunder defeated Indiana in Game 7 of the Finals. He played 35 minutes and recorded nine points in the championship-clinching performance. Following the 2024-25 season, Dort was named NBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time.

 

On January 27, 2026, Dort shoved New Orleans guard Jeremiah Fears after a game, initiating an altercation. Both players were fined $25,000.

 

International Career

 

On May 24, 2022, Dort agreed to a three-year commitment to represent Canada’s senior men’s national team.

 

Personal Life

 

Dort is a soccer fan who supports Barcelona F.C.

 

References

 

External Links

* Luguentz Dort on NBA.com

* Luguentz Dort on Basketball-Reference.com