From undrafted underdog to NBA champion, the defensive specialist leaves Oklahoma City a certified legend. Relive the defining moments that turned this blue-collar hero into a franchise icon.
Oklahoma City Thunder fans said their social media goodbyes to a beloved role player on Sunday.
Lu Dort was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in a three team trade that also netted the Thunder three 2nd round picks and sent former 2024 #1 overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks.
The former Arizona State Sun Devil went undrafted in 2019. All he did in the years following was become a First Team All Defense selection, a top 5 finisher in Defensive Player of the Year voting, transform himself into a 40% 3 point shooter on high volume for a two year stretch, start on a team that finished with the #1 seed in the Western Conference three straight years and play an important role in winning an NBA Championship.
Dort is the ultimate Thunder development success story on the court. And he embodies everything both the organization and the city he plays for is all about off the court.
Hard worker. Total team player. Gives 100% effort every night. Family man. High character. Culture builder.
There’s a multitude of reasons why he became a fan favorite. OKC fanatics love it when a blue collar type of player dives for balls and lays his body on the line to help the team win. Look no further than Nick Collison's jersey hanging in the rafters from The Paycom Center for proof. Dort is cut from the same cloth. And it's the reason why he will likely receive the loudest and most enthusiastic ovation from Loud City that a former player has received in his first game back in Oklahoma City since at least Steven Adams but possibly even the legendary Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder have made some roster changes from the 2025 NBA championship team. Dillon Jones, Ousmane Dieng, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and now Dort are now on other teams. OKC have replaced the fivesome with Thomas Sorber, Jared McCain, Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz. Dort's spot has yet to be filled, if it will be at all before the season, but that's speculation for another day and another RoundTable entry.
But while Oklahoma City remains firmly in position to contend for another title, it's important to acknowledge that the Thunder likely don't win that Larry O'Brien Trophy without Dort. His barrage of three 3 pointers in two minutes when OKC was down big to Denver in the 4th quarter of Game 5 of the West SemiFinals may have swung that series. His moonball in the opening moments of Game 7 of the NBA Finals was the exact moment when Thunder fans felt OKC was going to win it all.
Dort will forever remain a Thunder legend and fan favorite. And his name will forever be intertwined with the core that took home the first pro sports championship in Oklahoma history.
