OKC Thunder: 3 season goals for Luguentz Dort in 2020-21

After an incredible rookie season, it is time to take a look at the three goals for Luguentz Dort for the 2020-21 season for the OKC Thunder.

It is quite possible that Luguentz Dort is the feel-good story of the NBA last season. He certainly was for the OKC Thunder. As a writer and a fan, I felt goosebumps every time I think about Dort and his impact on the Thunder.

Depending on how the next few seasons go, his story will go down into Thunder folklore. He was not selected in the 2019 NBA draft due to questions about his 3-point shot. Sam Presti then signed Dort to a two-way deal, allowing Dort to show his value with the OKC Blue in the G-League.

Game one of the 2019-20 G-League season and Dort went off for 35 points. This was not what the coaching staff of the OKC Thunder were looking at though. They were looking at his defense and this, coupled with injuries to players ahead of him is what got Dort the call up.

How did Dort respond to his OKC Thunder call up?

Dort showed why the Thunder signed him to a two-way deal almost as soon as he set foot on the floor. He defended with an intensity similar to that of Andre Roberson. However, due to his body type, Dort was able to defend even more players than Roberson.

https://twitter.com/okcthunder/status/1290401695885938689?s=20

He has quick lateral movement and to quote Michael Cage “a body built like a fire hydrant.” This allowed him to defend the quicker guards and also the strong wings. This meant he would be potentially guarding James Harden one night and LeBron James the next.

It is no wonder it only took him two weeks to snare the starting spot. While questions over his shot remain, he was able to defend Harden in the Rockets series one on one, which is almost impossible. He also had the 30 point explosion in the elimination game which was simply historic.

This brings us to the three goals for Luguentz Dort for the 2020-21 season.