During a 2023 interview with The Athletic, Damian Lillard named Luguentz Dort as the top defender in the NBA and described him as “the perfect balance of strength, quickness, speed, and desire to do it.”
Luka Doncic also praised Dort in 2024 by calling him one of the three best perimeter defenders across the league.
Lillard and Doncic have vastly different playstyles, so the fact that both superstars commended him is a testament to the Thunder veteran’s defensive versatility.
Dort’s ability to shut down superstars is a huge reason behind why he earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors last season. The defensive numbers are likely better than even Thunder fans suspect.
According to databallr.com, Dort guarded five players for at least 100 possessions last season. Check out their points per 75 possessions and true shooting percentage when defended by Dort:
- Anthony Edwards (10.6 points, 53.5 TS%, 135 possessions)
- Luka Doncic (14.2 points, 65.8 TS%, 106 possessions)
- Lauri Markkanen (3.6 points, 20.8 TS%, 106 possessions)
- James Harden (5.7 points, 32.8 TS%, 105 possessions)
- Kyrie Irving (13 points, 40.9 TS%, 104 possessions)
They were all effectively invisible as scorers. And while Doncic had excellent efficiency, Dort holding him to only 14.2 points per 75 possessions is an incredible feat. Here are some other notable names that Dort locked down:
- Jayson Tatum (8.8 points, 35.3 TS%, 68 possessions)
- Donovan Mitchell (11.6 points, 32.4 TS%, 58 possessions)
- Devin Booker (2.7 points, 25.8 TS%, 56 possessions)
- Tyrese Haliburton (6 points, 100 TS%, 50 possessions)
Haliburton’s struggle to merely get shots off against Dort was crucial to Oklahoma City’s first title in franchise history. He held Indiana’s star point guard to zero field goals in Game 5 of the NBA Finals!
Meanwhile, the matchup data also shows who had success against Dort:
- De’Aaron Fox (20 points, 54.9 TS%, 94 possessions)
- Stephen Curry (26.7 points, 73.3 TS%, 62 possessions)
- Jalen Brunson (25.1 points, 66 TS%, 54 possessions)
- Trae Young (26.2 points, 68.2 TS%, 43 possessions)
The takeaway is that small guards with explosive speed, a knack for changing directions quickly and a ton of 3-point shooting range are able to find space versus the Thunder’s defensive ace.
Overall, Dort is indisputably one of the top perimeter defenders in the NBA. The Thunder have him under contract for the next two seasons, but he’s currently eligible for an extension. It will be worth monitoring whether Sam Presti extends Dort soon or decides to let the contract run its course before making a decision.
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Everything is promising for the Thunder right now. The vibes of Oklahoma City’s first NBA championship are still going strong statewide. Young stars Shai Gigeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren all signed long-term extensions to stay in OKC until the start of the next decade. Fan favorite role players Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell penned team-friendly deals. The upcoming season promises the league’s most nationally televised games and the Thunder are the runaway favorite to win the 2025-2026 title.