The Oklahoma City Thunder captured their first NBA championship in franchise history last night, with former Grind Session standout Luguentz Dort playing a crucial role in the team’s storied season. Dort and the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103‑91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to secure the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
A Defensive Anchor and Steady Scorer
From the opening tip of the NBA Finals, Dort emerged as a defining two-way threat for the Thunder. In Game 1, he turned heads by drilling five three-pointers while racking up four steals, becoming only the second player in NBA Finals history – alongside Kawhi Leonard – to achieve that rare combination.
Throughout the rest of the series, he maintained elite perimeter defense – disrupting passing lanes, contesting every screen, and logging multiple steals per game – while stretching the floor and consistently knocking down shots.
In Sunday night’s deciding Game 7, Dort logged nine points, seven rebounds, and three steals.
Across 23 playoff games this postseason, he averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 1.3 steals, while shooting 36.6% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc.
From Grind Session to Glory
Dort’s high school journey included stints with three different teams in the Grind Session – Arlington Country Day (2015-2016), Conrad Academy (2016-2017), and Athlete Institute (2017-2018).
During his senior year with Athlete Institute, he participated in notable events like the Nike Hoop Summit and the BioSteel All-Canadian Game, earning MVP honors in 2017 and 2018.
He played a single season at Arizona State and was signed by the Thunder after going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft.
“Watching Lu hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy is an indescribable moment of pride for all of us at Grind Session. To see a young man who made his mark on our circuit grow from a relentless competitor into an NBA champion is the fulfillment of every dream we’ve ever had for the players who pass through our league,” said Grind Session co-founder and CEO Scott Waldrop. “Lu’s journey – from grinding with us to the bright lights of the Finals – embodies the very essence of perseverance, heart, and hard work. We couldn’t be prouder to call him one of our own.”
Dort is the third former Grind Session star to become an NBA champion. He joins the elite company of Jamal Murray and Thomas Bryant, who won a ring with the Denver Nuggets in 2023.
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