Luguentz Dort INTERVIEW: Alex Caruso’s impact on Thunder, becoming NBA Champion & more | NBA Today

Luguentz Dort INTERVIEW: Alex Caruso’s impact on Thunder, becoming NBA Champion & more | NBA Today

And now joining us on set here on NBA Today, first team alldefense NBA champion Lugans Dort.
We got a bunch of champs on this
on this stage today. Welcome, brother. Welcome.
Good to see you, sir.
Good, man.
Yes, sir. Congrats. Good. Good.
Surprised you’re not still celebrating,
right? I mean, I took a little break.
So, tell us what has it been like since you’ve been a champ?
No, it’s been great. a lot of uh celebration, a lot of enjoyment, a lot of partying, but um um looking back to this whole season, um you know, we really happy happy about what we did.
Do Oklahomaans party or celebrate like Canadians?
Uh yeah, it’s about the same. It’s about the same. I seen our parade. Your parade was fun. Have you Did you see our parade?
I seen a couple.
How was the parade? Did you enjoy the parade?
The parade was amazing, honestly, man. I think it was lot of love out there.
I loved a lot, man. I think it was one of the best time of uh of this this past couple days. Um, you know, the fans showed so much love. They they was out there and then, uh,
we showed a lot of love back. I tell you, you guys had so many twists and turns, right? I always tell people, you know, we we’ve talked about a million times about how young you guys were as a group, and it felt like at times you were kind of learning on the job through the last couple of years, but in this particular postseason, is there a moment that sticks out to you that you guys felt like this is a turning point for us or a catapulting moment for us?
Yeah. Um, I would say the way that we turn the page after a loss. I mean, it’s always it’s always hard to to to lose a game in the playoff and, you know, you you in your head sometimes and you think about, then are we really, you know, ready for this this challenge? But, you know, the way that we just turn the page and, you know, we regroup, watch film and see some of the control stuff that we could could do uh um the game after that and then, you know, we went out there and then executed, you know, pretty much won every game. We
seven and0 after losses this post.
Very good. I have a similar question. I was going to take that one, but for me is you guys are very young and your confident group and obviously the head of the snake the leader SGA. Yeah.
What were the moment or moment that you guys were most nervous? Like who what team had you guys a little bit like uh oh this our season could be really on the line here?
Yeah, I would say uh Denver Nuggets was the one that um you know have us had us shaking a little bit. Um you know they’ve been they’ve been they won before and been in those type of position. So, um, you know, it was, you know, they did a great job as well responding and all that. Indiana, for me, it was Indiana game four for you because I had you guys picked I had picked you guys to win in sixth.
Uhhuh.
And when I watched game four, I saw the first half, I was I was really nervous for you guys.
Yeah. Um, I mean, we we were a little nervous that game. Yeah. I tell I’m going to be honest. But, um,
uh, I mean, we just knew that we could have we we could have got it done, you know what I mean? We just had to do it together and then, you know, we came back in that game.
Love the confidence, man. first team all defense. I voted for you defensive player of the year. I’ve told you that already before, but no knock on anyone else, but um you always drew the toughest assignment, you know, just the mindset that it goes in and Danny obviously can recognize this as well as a great defender, but just the mindset that goes into having to pick up the toughest assignment night in and night out.
Yeah. Um every approach, I mean, you know, I know my team wants wants me to be that guy all the time, and I know I’m capable of doing that as well. So, um, you know, every time I see a especially an all-star, you know, I always, you know, really like to see that type of challenge. And then, you know, I know that every time I can take one of them guys out, you know, I’m helping my team win.
I love that, man. And I want to give a little bit of time to shout out some of the guys that are your teammates that I got a chance to play with. Isaiah Joe and Alex Caruso. How big were they, especially Alex Caruso for this championship run and in the finals of keeping you guys poised and mature and also teach you how to celebrate. Tell me some of the things that Alex has AC has taught you.
AC is is huge. I mean, he’s he’s a real leader. um real loud on the court. He’s real vocal. Um you know, he’s a hell of a defender. And then, you know, we we kind of needed a guy like that on our team, you know, with with a lot of experience and just, you know, always being loud in the good time and the bad times. And uh you know, he’s done a great job with that. And you know, Isaiah Jo is always always ready. He’s always ready for the moment. You know, anytime he he gets his name call, he’ll show up show up in the game and hit a big shot.
Found home for him. I’m I’m happy for him.
Speaking of getting their name called, we had a bunch of guys get their name called at the draft here recently. You were undrafted, though. what what message would you have for some of those guys like yourself that had to take a different path?
Yeah. Um I mean the draft is a draft. Um it it can go good, sometime can go bad, but um you know, it’s just it’s just a start. You know, it’s an opportunity and then, you know, if anybody gets a chance, you know, to at least sign a two-way or a summer league contract, whatever it is, you know, just use that and go out there and use that that motivation to go out there and prove that that you belong in this league.
Danny mentioned Alice Cruso a second. You see what he’s been up to since you guys won a championship? He’s at raising canes doing giving out orders and stuff.
Yeah, he’s still working.
Not shocked by that. Not shocked by that. There it is. There’s Alice Kuso raising canes doing his thing, taking orders in the drive-thru.
Second second day job. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
You know that second apron is a real thing. You know what I’m saying?
I guess 80 million is not enough, huh?
More.
But I So, are is the team going to give you guys an opportunity to take the trophy back to your your home cities? Is that
uh I hope they do. I’m pretty sure they will. Uh we haven’t had that conversation yet. But um you know you’ve been to Montreal. You know it’s
it’s a good place. It’s a great place.
Yeah. I’m looking forward to bringing a trophy there. Okay.
Lugen store NBA champion. Thank you so much for joining us, man. Appreciate it.
Time brother. Congratulations man. NBA champ. The champ is here on NBA today.
Thank you guys. [Music] [Applause] me with the heat. I’m on fire on the

2025 NBA Champion Luguentz Dort joins Jorge Sedano and Danny Green on NBA Today to discuss how life has been since defeating the Indiana Pacers in 7 games in the NBA Finals.

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