Damian Lillard Credits OKC's Lu Dort as NBA's Top Defender
On multiple occasions down the stretch, Lu Dort has saved the day for Oklahoma City.
Not even two weeks ago, the defensive stopper clamped Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers on the last possession of the game, preventing Los Angeles from even getting a shot off. Dort fought through screen after screen, sticking to Leonard like glue, and not allowing him to get his 3-point attempt off in time. When the Thunder needs stops at the end of the game, they go to Lu Dort.
The fourth year guard sticks to anybody, wing or post. One player he seems to routinely have fun matchups with is Damian Lillard, who’s been one of the best point guards in the game from the time he entered the league. It takes a village to slow down a player like Lillard, but the Trailblazers star said Dort was his toughest matchup.
“Lu Dort,” Lillard said via The Athletic. “I think he has the perfect balance of strength, quickness, speed and desire to do it. And he’s young. So I just think he is the best at it.”
Lillard has seen plenty of defenses over the years, both from an individual standpoint and schematically. Dort’s physical style on the perimeter and quickness in recovery makes him hard to beat. Lillard understands the mindset it takes against a player like that.
“I just know what I’m dealing with,” Lillard said. “With a guy like him, I go at him first, so he knows he isn’t going to come in here thinking he is the boss of this s—. He’s going to have to be on his job, and he’s going to have to know that from the beginning.”
Dort takes pride in his game-winning defense, and his teammates appreciate it. After the late possession against Kawhi Leonard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told Bally Sports that’s why Dort gets paid the big bucks. His tenacious mentality is paying off for this young Thunder team, and people around the league are noticing.
“Me and that person on an island … it’s one of the toughest challenges and it’s something I’m big on, those types of moments,” Dort said. “One-on-one… it’s kind of a disrespect. The offensive player thinks he can take me on an island and I take that as disrespect. So I really take on the challenge in those moments.”
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