Lu Dort’s revealing admission about Thunder’s Alex Caruso

After Lu Dort went undrafted within the 2019 NBA Draft, he signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder earlier than his promotion from G League’s Blue squad to the affiliation in December. Quick-forward to 2024, and he’s considered one of Oklahoma Metropolis’s veteran leaders on one of many league’s most devastating defenses, a continuing thorn within the facet of opposing offenses. Earlier than Dort revealed his secret to drawing offensive fouls at Thunder Media Day, he talked about how excited he’s to share the ground with new teammate Alex Caruso — the 2020 Lakers champion guard, who’s coming off back-to-back All-Defensive First and Second Workforce alternatives in 2023 and 2024.

“It brings rather a lot. It’s gonna deliver quite a lot of good and optimistic. He has quite a lot of expertise. He’s archived rather a lot in his profession, particularly defensively,” Dort mentioned. “For myself, the way in which I see it’s to study. He’s had an important method, and he’s been actually vocal in main, which is sweet. And me, I’m nonetheless studying. I nonetheless wanna study rather a lot, particularly defensively. So, I really feel like I can study rather a lot from him.”

After main the NBA in drawing non-charge offensive fouls in 2023-24, Dort’s making a reputation for himself as one of many league’s feistiest backcourt defenders. After celebrity Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s glowing ‘annoying’ Caruso assessment this week, it seems that Caruso’s settling into his new atmosphere throughout his first week with the Thunder.

Lu Dort enters his sixth season with the Thunder

As Alex Caruso is about to debut along with his new group, Lu Dort is getting into his sixth season with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. He and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the Thunder’s longest-tenured gamers, which Dort is happy with whereas trying again on his profession so far.

“I took quite a lot of satisfaction, and I’m without end grateful for the chance and the belief that this group has had in me from the start,” Dort mentioned. “They actually formed me as an expert basketball participant, actually. “

Now, he takes on a newfound management position for second — and third-year teammates, resembling large males Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Cason Wallace.

“Primary factor is actually the method. The way you method the sport each time and the way you method a season. To actually go on the market and compete and play your finest. And in addition, out right here, it’s the tradition and the togetherness that we’ve that we need to deliver them together with us,” Dort added. “And to show them that everytime you step out on the courtroom, you’re searching for your self but in addition the group.”

Dort and the Thunder start their preseason schedule in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs on October 7.