"He Was Big On The Little Details": Lu Dort Pays Tribute To Former OKC Mentor Chris Paul

Lu Dort has earned a reputation as one of the toughest defenders in the league. When it comes to toughness, it’s evident that Dort has learned a lot from an all-time great who used to be on the Oklahoma City roster.

In an interview with Thunder beat reporter Addam Francisco earlier this week, Dort talked about the influence of former OKC court general Chris Paul, who has announced his retirement at the end of the current season.

“What he did here for a year was crazy. He left his mark, and a lot of people here love him,” Dort said of Paul. “Myself, he was my vet. He taught me a lot of things on and off the court.”

After showcasing his talent in stints with the New Orleans Pelicans, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Houston Rockets, Paul was traded to the Thunder during the 2019 offseason. In the same month that the CP3 trade was executed, the Thunder signed an undrafted Arizona State guard to a two-way contract. That undrafted prospect was none other than Dort, who found himself in a prime position to learn from an exceptionally intelligent veteran.

Though Paul would find himself on the move again after the 2019–20 campaign, he left an impression on the young OKC roster. One of the things that Dort admired about Paul, who is second all-time in NBA career assists, was his thoroughness.

“He was big on the little details,” Dort recalled. “He got me an iPad, the iPad that I still have today, that I watch film in.”

It’s interesting, then, to imagine Dort scouting his opponents’ tendencies using a device gifted by a future Hall of Famer. Aside from his playmaking brilliance, Paul has also established himself as a defensive pest, leading the league in steals six times and earning a total of nine All-Defensive Team selections.

While the Thunder have evolved into a defensive juggernaut en route to their 2025 title conquest, Dort can be rightfully considered as an inheritor of Paul’s intensity on defense. The Montreal native was named to the All-Defensive First Team for the first time last season, and by all indications, that won’t be the last time it happens.

Dort hounds opposing scorers in a variety of ways, including but not limited to impeccable footwork and active, meticulous hands that disrupt rhythm and bother passing lanes. In other words, the one-time NBA champion has excellent attention to detail on the defensive end. That’s no surprise, as Dort once had the pleasure of picking a “Point God’s” brain.