Controversial Oklahoma City Thunder mainstay Lu Dort was yet again accused of another dirty play against Devin Booker. Game 3 of the first-round series saw Dort tripping Booker in the third quarter and sending him to the Phoenix Suns locker room to get checked. Booker was healthy enough to return and finish the game, but the incident raised questions on a broader topic.
Dort has been accused of making dirty plays multiple times this season. Booker shared the following message after the game when asked if the play was malicious:
“I don’t know if it’s intentional or not. I seen he stuck his leg out a little bit. He threw his hand up to say that it was a foul and it just wasn’t granted.”
Booker could have doubled down on calling Dort a dirty player, but he decided to give a more modest statement. Many NBA players accidentally get tripped, and this is extremely common throughout the season. However, Dort’s reputation makes it a bigger story since many are skeptical about his actions. Oklahoma City managed to win the game and take a dominant 3-0 series lead over the Suns.
Why NBA Fans Call Lu Dort A Dirty Player
The main reason for Dort getting the terrible label of a “dirty” player comes from his playing style. Dort typically defends the opposing team’s best player and must get physical with them to make the All-Star offensive talents uncomfortable in these intense games.
Recent history has seen both Nikola Jokic and LeBron James calling Dort for some of his defensive plays against them almost causing an injury. Oklahoma City also benefits from being the best team in the league and getting away with more foul calls from officials than the average team.
Dort is allowed to play more physical basketball with a smaller risk of getting called for a foul or a flagrant foul. This causes many players across the league to dislike Dort and hate playing against him for this reason. However, Dort’s offensive limitations make it imperative that he remains an elite defender via his vicious style.
Did Lu Dort Try To Injure Devin Booker
Dort rarely gets the benefit of the doubt in situations like this due to his track record. Players like Dort, Dillon Brooks, and Draymond Green are considered enforcers who like to make opposing players feel comfortable by imposing their will more than other players.
However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Dort is always trying to injure his opponents. Booker is by far the best player on the Suns and requires Dort to play physical defense. The trip looked bad, but it could have easily been a mistake to come via the nature of a competitive playoff game.
Booker returning to game was the most important takeaway since he escaped injury. Dort could risk getting suspended if he keeps doing this and tries it with the wrong player. An expected upcoming series against the Los Angeles Lakers will see Dort having to defend James, Austin Reaves, and a potentially returning Luka Doncic at various points.
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