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'It's Because I'm Not A Villain': OKC Star Lu Dort Attributes Lack Of Popularity To His Refusal To Trash-Talk
© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Lu Dort recently shared why he wasn't among the more popular players in the league. While speaking in an interview with "The Athletic", Dort attributed his lack of popularity to the fact that he actively chooses not to talk trash and engage in the antics that many defensive players in the league do.

"I think it’s because I’m not a villain," said Dort. "I’m not a guy that goes out there trash-talking and being loud. I do my job and move on. Even though I know they’re mad and having a bad game, I’m not gonna let them know that.”

The forward's presence on the floor is an intimidating one. Although he is relatively undersized in his position, Dort is a very strongly built individual. The Thunder forward often leverages this when it comes to holding his ground against bigger and tougher players.

However, in the semifinals series against the Denver Nuggets, Dort has drawn the task of guarding Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray. This matchup has been an entertaining one to watch as the Nuggets guard has had to fight for every point he has scored.

The 26-year-old is well aware of the fact that Denver wants him away from their star as much as possible. He addressed this during the interview as well.

“It’s been like that all year; it’s not just Denver. I know I’m a good defender and disturb a lot of (opposing teams’) main guys. Whenever I’m off their main guy’s body, it’s good for them.”

Lu Dort is one of the most important players on the Thunder's roster. Although he only averages 10.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, Dort is a menace on the defensive side of the ball. 

Dort's presence has been felt beyond the realm of guarding Murray. His impact on defense has been essential for the Thunder as they seek to overcome the Nuggets in this series. A key aspect of the defensive effort shown by both teams in this series has been physicality, something that has been a heavily discussed topic in the playoffs as a whole.

The physical nature of each game has been called out on several occasions this year. Nuggets head coach David Adelman, along with Aaron Gordon, have called out the bias on the part of the officials with how they've blown the whistle and awarded fouls.

However, by simply looking at the stats, it is evident that the games aren't necessarily as biased as they may look. More often than not, the Nuggets end up shooting more free throws, albeit Nuggets star Nikola Jokic may not be receiving the same whistle Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does. However, this is also mere speculation on the part of players and media. 

Regardless, with a 92-87 win in Game 4, the Thunder have drawn the series level at 2-2 before heading back home. With Game 5 emerging as a crucial one for breaking the deadlock, OKC will look to win back-to-back games and take control of the series on Tuesday at 9:30 pm ET.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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Pelicans' exec makes team's stance on Zion Williamson crystal clear

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Dustin Rhodes Assigns Blame After Hulk Hogan’s Death
Wrestling

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Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb sends strong message after tempers flare at training camp
NFL

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Here’s What Happened at Practice 2 of Packers Training Camp
NFL

Here’s What Happened at Practice 2 of Packers Training Camp

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Love’s final segment of practice was a third-down period consisting of five plays. Love was 3-of-4 passing, with the three completions moving the chains. On third-and-9, it was Love to Doubs. On third-and-7, Love coaxed the defense offside and threw incomplete on a free play. On third-and-5, it was Love to Tucker Kraft for a first down. On third-and-4, Love fielded a low snap – a theme for the day – and overthrew Josh Jacobs, who had gotten behind Carrington Valentine and Xavier McKinney. Finally, on third-and-3, Love extended the play and used a lightning-fast release to connect with Matthew Golden between Bo Melton and Isaiah McDuffie for the first down. Player of the Day At cornerback this offseason, the Packers let Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell walk in free agency and released Jaire Alexander. Their lone big addition was Nate Hobbs, who signed a four-year, $48 million contract in free agency. During a third-down period, Jordan Love got Hobbs to jump offside on third-and-7. On the next snap, third-and-5, Hobbs got his revenge. On an out to Dontayvion Wicks, Hobbs made a diving interception at the sideline and let the offense know all about it. “It was third down, I knew my personnel and I knew it was 87 (Romeo Doubs), I wanted to jump him, make him get into his route and apply the pressure on him so the quarterback knew he can’t just hold the ball, surprise him a little bit. The first hard count I didn’t go for. The second hard count, I’m like OK, cool, and I jumped offsides. A mistake we can’t have. “But I knew if I was to jump offsides, I had to make that (next) play to get us off the field, so I told my teammates, ‘That’s on me. I promise I’ll make that play.’ That builds trust. When your teammates are looking around and are like, that could lose a game, you’ve got to know as a man you’ve got to be accountable. I just told my guys, ‘I’ve got you all. I promise.’ That builds trust.” It was a big-time play for Hobbs, who also was all over a checkdown to Josh Jacobs early in practice. “He’s done a great job,” coach Matt LaFleur said before practice. “You can really see the guy’s a competitor, and that’s why we loved him on tape. He’s tough. He was primarily a nickel with the Raiders, and so it’s been pretty cool to watch him come in, played a lot more outside corner, but also we know what he can do, you know, if we want to put him inside.” Play of the Day During a backups-vs.-backups 2-minute drill, rookie quarterback Taylor Elgersma completed his first pass to set up a third-and-4 from the 31. Elgersma rifled a seam shot to tight end Ben Sims, which first-year safety Omar Brown grabbed for an interception. “We were in man. It’s been a while since I’ve been in man. I’m usually in the post,” Brown said. “Just playing man and playing ball, pretty much. Seen the throw, slipped it and caught it.” Brown, who intercepted eight passes at Northern Iowa before finishing with two seasons at Nebraska, went undrafted in 2024 and signed with the Broncos, who gave him $250,000 guaranteed. He failed to make their roster, though, and spent all of last season on Green Bay’s practice squad. He played special teams in two games. “It means something to me,” he said of the interception. “It’s my second camp so every pick means something to me. I just can’t wait to do it in a game, honestly.” Packers Injury Updates Training camp opened with seven players on injury lists. That’s down to five, as rookie seventh-round cornerback Micah Robinson (knee) and linebacker Quay Walker (ankle) passed their physicals. While Robinson returned to action after missing minicamp, Walker remained in the background, watching the defense from far behind the formation. Coach Matt LaFleur wouldn’t put a timeline on Walker’s return to practice. “It’s just good to get him back acclimated with the guys, communicating in the huddle, seeing it from that position,” LaFleur said. Six players did not practice: Walker (ankle), receiver Christian Watson (knee), linebacker Collin Oliver (hamstring), running back Amar Johnson (hamstring) and offensive lineman John Williams (back) and center Elgton Jenkins (back). Left guard Aaron Banks, the team’s big-ticket free agent, was on the field but did not participate during the second half of practice for unknown reasons. Packers Practice Highlights - Focusing on cornerback during training camp, Bo Melton made a pair of impressive plays on back-to-back snaps. First, he was in position to thwart a bootleg and scramble by Malik Willis. On the next play, he broke up a crossing route from Taylor Elgersma to Savion Williams. “Day 1 was good, did some nice things,” coach Matt LaFleur said before practice. “I just love the attitude and what he’s all about, what he represents. His story is awesome. Just how he’s had to earn everything in this league. And I think that’s a good lesson for all our players, whether you’re a first-rounder or seventh-rounder, a UDFA. It doesn’t matter. You got to earn it every day and he definitely has done that.” - With Elgton Jenkins missing a second consecutive day, both of the backup centers, Jacob Monk and Trey Hill, had wayward shotgun snaps. After Hill’s was wide right of Willis, he was briefly benched. - Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness had a race to the backfield to devour Josh Jacobs on a running play. On the next snap, the defense would let Jayden Reed turn the corner on a jet sweep. - On the first play of the second-team’s 2-minute drill, Isaiah Simmons rushed into the backfield, got his hands up and deflected Malik Willis’ pass, which was intercepted by Carrington Valentine. “Just playing what I was supposed to do on the call and just trusted what I was supposed to do and let my instincts take over,” Simmons explained. - The 2s got a re-do. On the first play, Willis threw a splendid corner route that was thrown just a few inches beyond receiver Julian Hicks. After a third-down completion from Willis to Savion Williams for a first down, second-year linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper blew up a screen to MarShawn Lloyd, which helped kill the drive. - This was quite a sequence by the defense. Edgerrin Cooper turned on the jets to tackle Jacobs near the line. On the next play, Jordan Love faked a toss and completed a pass to Dontayvion Wicks, but Rashan Gary might have had the sack. On the next play, Love was sacked by Isaiah McDuffie. - Much has been made of first-round pick Matthew Golden’s speed. His elusiveness was on display on a third-and-3 catch. First, he juked cornerback Gregory Junior. Then, he sidestepped Hopper. It led to a long catch and run. - The day ended with rookie defensive tackle Keith Randolph sacking Sean Clifford. We’ll have a story on Randolph this weekend. Packers Lineup Notes - The No. 1 offensive line consisted of Rasheed Walker at left tackle, Aaron Banks at left guard, Sean Rhyan at center, Jordan Morgan at right guard and Zach Tom at right tackle. Jacob Monk got some first-team snaps at center, which allowed Rhyan to move to his customary spot at right guard. With Banks missing about half of practice, Travis Glover stepped into the action. His goal is to “re-earn trust” after being benched in the playoff loss to the Eagles, when replaced Elgton Jenkins. Morgan has not taken any snaps at left tackle. - The No. 2 line consisted of Anthony Belton at left tackle, Donovan Jennings at left guard, Monk at center, Glover at right guard and Kadeem Telfort at right tackle. The No. 3 line consisted of Brant Banks at left tackle, J.J. Lippe at left guard, Trey Hill at center, Tyler Cooper at right guard and Belton at right tackle. - Once again, the first reps at safety in the base defense went to Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams, signaling that Williams is ahead of Javon Bullard. The first reps in nickel went to Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs at corner and Bullard in the slot. - In the punt-return rotation, it was Jayden Reed, Keisean Nixon, Matthew Golden, Mecole Hardman, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. Hardman’s experience in that role is obvious; Wicks’ muffed one right off his private area. Packers Training Camp Schedule The Packers will practice again at 10:30 a.m. Friday. After an off-day on Saturday, the Packers will practice at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday and Monday. Monday will be the first in full pads. Quote of the Day Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs, on the empty banner alongside all the championship banners on the hallway leading from the locker room to the field. “They need to take them 1930s and ’40s down. Nah, I’m kidding. I’m playing. I’m playing. But I feel like it’s been too long. From 2010, there’s a big old gap. That’s not good enough. That’s not the standard, that’s not the Green Bay standard. If you’re coming here to just work and get better yourself, you’re wrong. There’s no point in coming here.”

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