NBA Players Defend Lu Dort After DPOY Snub

Oklahoma City, OK — Oklahoma City Thunder player Lu Dort has been left off the list of finalists for this year’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, igniting a defense from his teammates. Isaiah Hartenstein expressed his disappointment during a Monday interview, suggesting that Dort’s skills go unrecognized by voters.

Hartenstein, while addressing the media, implied that Dort’s performance throughout the season warranted more acknowledgment. He remarked, “If you’ve watched him all year, he’s been great. The finalists are great defenders, but watching Lu do what he does on a nightly basis, I think that’s what people don’t see with the stats that don’t show.” Hartenstein continued, stating, “He’s been great all year. To me, he’s Defensive Player of the Year.”

In a humorous twist, Hartenstein proposed starting a podcast with Dort to further discuss his talents, referencing Warriors forward Draymond Green‘s own podcast, “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.” Green initially faced criticism for hosting a podcast amid the busy NBA season but later found success, contributing to the Warriors’ fourth championship win in 2022.

This year’s DPOY finalists include Green, Dyson Daniels from the Atlanta Hawks, and Evan Mobley from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Green has averaged 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks while holding a 108.8 defensive rating over his 68 games this season. Despite not making the finalist list, Dort’s supporters remain vocal about his defensive contributions throughout the year.