Man, let me tell you about this guy Luguentz Dort. I swear, this dude came out of nowhere. Back in 2019, I was casually watching the draft, not expecting much, just another year, you know? But then, no one picked this Dort guy. He was undrafted! Can you believe it? I thought, “Well, that’s a shame, probably another talented player lost in the system.”
So, I started digging around. I heard from some folks online, maybe it was Reddit, that the scouts were actually pretty high on him during the pre-draft process. Dort himself was probably thinking he’d get drafted, based on what those scouts were saying. It was such a surprise to see his name not being called.
Then, the Oklahoma City Thunder, my team, swooped in and signed him. At that time, they weren’t exactly contenders, more like rebuilding, to put it nicely. But I had a good feeling about it. I remembered reading that these undrafted free agents usually end up on two-way contracts. You know, they bounce between the G League and the main team, trying to prove themselves. It’s a tough road, lots of uncertainty.
I decided to follow Dort’s journey, keeping an eye on the G League games. One of my buddies, a die-hard Thunder fan, told me that the coach, Mark Daigneault, had some high praise for Dort. He said that Dort was “shot out of a cannon” from day one with the Oklahoma City Blue, their G League team. That got me even more hyped!
Watching Dort play was something else. He was hustling on every possession, playing tough defense, and even knocking down some shots. It was clear he was hungry, determined to make the most of this opportunity. He wasn’t just some random undrafted guy; he was making a statement.
And the Thunder organization noticed. They saw his potential, his work ethic, and his impact on the court. They promoted him from the G League to the main roster, and he quickly became a key player for them. It was incredible to witness his rapid development, going from an undrafted free agent to a starter in the NBA in such a short time.
- Initially, I thought he was just another undrafted player.
- Then, I learned that scouts were impressed with him.
- The Thunder signed him, and he started in the G League.
- He impressed the coach with his energy and performance.
- He was promoted to the main roster and became a key player.
Honestly, Dort’s story is a real inspiration. It shows that hard work and determination can take you far, even when the odds are stacked against you. He proved that you don’t need to be a top draft pick to make it in the NBA. I’m so glad I got to witness his rise, and I’m excited to see what he does next. That’s my take on the Luguentz Dort saga – a true underdog story. He made a believer out of me.
