The NBA champions stated one of the best play they made within the NBA was in opposition to De’aaron Fox, however they claimed that Fox made an enormous mistake.
Fox signed the biggest extension of the four-year, $229 million {dollars}, when San Antonio spurs this offseason, after the Sacramento Kings traded him final season. He was an NBA All-Star in 2023, however the Spurs’ depth in his place drew criticism for the Fox contract.
The 27-year-old is on a separate timeline from younger San Antonio stars Victor Wenbanyama and Stefon Fortress, and not too long ago drafted Dylan Harper. Fox additionally performs an analogous position to Harper and Fortress, so the spur of connecting himself with him financially was a controversial transfer.
And when requested about one of the best defensive play he is made within the NBA, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder champion reminisced about his second with Fox.
Lu Dort, who gained the 2025 NBA Championship with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, stated one of the best play he is made within the NBA was stealing in opposition to Fox.
Talking to the NBA social media group, he stated: “A couple of years in the past I used to be taking part in in opposition to Sacramento. I stole it in opposition to Fox. I went for a layup. That was the most important factor within the league.”
Disable this second. It was the winner of the sport. When Thunder performed the Kings in November 2021, the rating was tied collectively at 103. Sacramento held the ball with seven seconds left, and Dort defended Fox.
Fox drove left to seek out the winner of the sport, however Dort took him. He took 5 seconds to fly by way of the courthouse. Dort headed for the hoops, and the Euro walked round Buddy Haerd and layed up the Fox contest. This play gained the Thunder Recreation 105-103.
After the sport, Dort stated there was no have to do a lot to steal. He defined that Fox misplaced the ball as an alternative of taking Dort from him.
He stated, “I did not transfer my palms that a lot, he simply misplaced the ball a bit, I simply took it after which I needed to go up exhausting. I knew I did not have a lot time, so I needed to go and end.”
Dort is among the NBA’s finest defenders regardless of creating only one defensive group in his six years within the league. He averaged 1.1 metal and a defensive ranking of 109.9 per recreation.
That is whereas taking up a few of the NBA’s most troublesome defensive matchups for one of the best protection of the NBA from 2024-25.
The Canadian defined why he put a lot emphasis on the ground defenders. He stated, “I had some vets on my group, so if I wished to get a whole lot of taking part in time, I needed to do a whole lot of protection. I’ve acquired lots higher.”
He’s very centered on the defensive facet, so he warms as much as the defensive earlier than the sport. Dort stated the important thing to nice protection is shifting your legs. He makes certain his footwork is suitable earlier than he places on the go well with.
He continued. “I have been doing this since I used to be a newcomer. I am engaged on the closeout and dealing on getting by way of the display.”
Thunder’s Massive 3, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren are the gamers who’ve paid some huge cash from their groups and are headlined. However Dort is a vital piece for champions.
Gamers who apply their craft primarily to the defensive facet are invaluable weapons in opposition to league superstars, and he proved it in opposition to Fox.
