2 weeks Ago
Its been a historic season for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team won 68 games in the record season in large part thanks to their historic defense. The OKC Thunder were led by Lu Dort on the defense end.
The Thunder's defensive ace has been stellar at taking on the tough assignments each night and slicing their season averages en route to stalling offenses. If you ask anyone but the NBA Award voters –– players, coaches and front office members –– they will tell you how special what Dort does night in and night out is. Sure, Oklahoma City is talent-rich, especially on the defensive end, but it all starts with Dort.
His teammates will tell you that . The Thunder saw two members of its squad earn Defensive Player of the year votes. Dort logged 11 first place votes, 12 second place votes and 18 third place votes.
Superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned a second place vote as well. Ultimately, the winner of this award was Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley. The USC product marks the first Cavalier to ever take home the Defensive Player of the Year honor.
It was outrageous that Dort didn't finish above Draymond Green or Dyson Daniels but he doesn't have the two key things voters look for: A podcast or gaudy counting stats. All the Thunder defensive ace possesses is elite level defensive and a relentless motor. That is enough to make the Thunder a championship-worthy defensive unit and that is why Oklahoma City is a popular pick to make the NBA Finals.
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