Oklahoma City Thunder: Lu Dort Talks About Growing Bond with 1 Teammate as Season Starts

However, stars aren’t enough to win an NBA title. Every contender needs the rest of the supporting cast to function to have a chance at the title. Fortunately for Thunder fans, Sam Presti built an incredible squad of role players who can perform when needed.

One such player is Lu Dort. The defensive stalwart has become one of the more reliable 3-and-D players and is a key rotation piece for the Thunder.

He understands the importance of a great locker room and is already taking steps to ensure the Thunder have one of the league’s best collective of role players.

Lu Dort talks about building chemistry with Ousmane Dieng, Oklahoma City Thunder roster

Ousmane Dieng isn’t a name many fans outside of OKC are familiar with. He only played 33 games last season, averaging 4.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

While casual fans expect him to be out of the league by the time his rookie deal’s up, Dort takes steps to help the 21-year-old Frenchman gel better with the rest of the roster.

Per Athlon Sports’ Adel Ahmad:

“The same way some of the older guys [did] when I was young helped me having my stuff off the court,” Dort says of mentoring Dieng. “Being in control of that, I am just trying to help him and tell him some of the stuff that helps me. Me and Ous are really close. We speak French and stuff like that. Whatever I can do to help him, I’ll do it.”

Dort’s decision to take Dieng under his wing should help the young forward better get his bearings and put together a more impressive performance. Juggling the various responsibilities NBA players have can be tough on young athletes, so having Dort guide him through the season will help his NBA career.

Moreover, there’s no better mentor to have on the Thunder than Lu Dort. The Arizona State product had a decent 2023-24 campaign, averaging 10.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists a game. He also developed his shooting stroke to provide space for the Thunders’ stars to operate.

The season is long and many things can happen. However, OKC Thunder fans can count on their roster to provide valuable support to their top players to finish atop the Western Conference again.