OKC Thunder shooting guard and defensive specialist Lu Dort has recently been going viral, and for all the wrong reasons.
Videos of the veteran intentionally leaning into fouls began circulating online this past week. The compilations featured Dort purposefully sticking out various limbs on three-point shot attempts in order to draw contact with his defender.
Some of the flops are egregious, where the defender is nowhere near Dort, and he blatantly shoots a leg forward to try to draw contact.
This footage comes after Dort was caught trying to do the same thing in Oklahoma City's second of three games against the Spurs, where the Thunder guard casually walked into Victor Wembanyama after he finished a three-point shot.
NBA world catching on to Thunder guard's shenanigans
This affair has fueled a fire that fans have been stoking since late last season, when superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander began earning the nickname "Free Throw Merchant" in nearly every NBA stadium outside of Oklahoma City.
X and a slew of other social media platforms had a field day during the NBA Finals when SGA struggled to shoot as efficiently as usual while still averaging 30.3 points per game -- a number that was bolstered by 10 free throw attempts per game.
Even now, the NBA is suspicious of the superstar's scoring methods. Other stars around the league have commented on it, the most recent of which was LeBron James, who expressed his admiration for Shai's ability to get to the line, but it was more or less framed as a backhanded compliment.
Lu Dort hunting for fouls doesn't bode well for his career
It's no secret that, given Oklahoma City's unparalleled depth, Dort has been subject to questions about his role on the team.
It doesn't help that his three-point percentage is currently the fifth-lowest on the team, and the second-lowest of his career at 32.8.
Things only look worse on the defensive end, the place where the veteran is expected to thrive.
He has the second-lowest defensive rating of any Thunder player who's averaging more than 15 minutes per game.
All of these facts could be seen as the writing on the wall for a player who has spent the entirety of his career in Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, it's difficult to justify keeping his salary around when younger, cheaper, and arguably more talented options (Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, etc.) have been taking full advantage of their minutes.
Time will tell what happens to this crowded OKC backcourt, but fans shouldn't be surprised to see Dort as part of a potential package for a sharp shooter or a defensive big man come the trade deadline.