After an excellent few seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Lu Dort is not playing at his best this season. He is averaging 7.7 points on an inefficient 35% from the field and 29.8% from beyond the arc.
Dort is still playing well defensively, but his offensive deficiencies are becoming a problem for the Thunder. Despite these struggles, Dort is still getting love and support from his teammates and head coach Mark Daigneault.
Daigneault still believes in Dort despite the struggles
Dort had a decent game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, scoring 13 points on decent efficiency. That is what people expect from Dort, considering he is a vital part of the defending champions. He was superb for the Thunder over the years, but this season might be the roughest one.
As the head coach, Daigneault always protects his players when they are struggling. Dort is not an exception because Daigneault is showing love for his player, despite him not playing as well as expected.
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After the Grizzlies game, Daigneault made sure to shower Dort with praise. Everyone knows he has solid potential as a player, but he also has all the intangibles that make him a good teammate.
"I haven't had any conversations about him. I have such a belief in him. I've seen him go through so many ups and downs. He’s so consistent as a competitor. He always puts the work in, and he has unbelievable self-belief, so he maintains a high level of self-confidence through all circumstances," Daigneault said about Dort to Rylan Stiles' question after the Grizzlies game.
As the season progresses, the Thunder will continue to be under pressure. It will be great to have a player like Dort, who prioritizes the team's success. He will be working hard no matter what, and with Daigneault's trust, Dort can keep this going in their championship defense.