Although he's deserved it in years past, OKC Thunder wing Lu Dort will finally earn an NBA All-Defensive Team honor this season.

SI: You’re trying to win a championship. But do you have individual goals? First team All-Defense? Defensive Player of the Year? Lugentz Dort: Honestly, the biggest goal is to go out there and

But for his effort on the defensive end of the floor, Lu has set personal goals he hopes to achieve this season, per Sports Illustraded’s Chris Mannix. “The biggest goal is to go out there and perform every night for my teammates.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort recently made a statement regarding the Defensive Player of the Year race after Victor Wembanyama's injury.

Lu to friends, teammates and frustrated opponents who grumble after matchups with one of the NBA’s top defenders—was ready for his moment. Dort, who exited Arizona State after his freshman season, had traveled to New York for the NBA draft.

Now that Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs is out of the running, multiple NBA stars are in contention for Defensive Player of the Year. Lu Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder believes he has what it takes to earn the coveted end-of-year prize and spoke about it on the “Open Floor” podcast.

He entered Friday's game having connected on just 23.1 percent of his three-point attempts over his last eight outings, but his six triples tied a season high that he has reached five times. Dort will look to carry that hot shooting into Sunday's game against De'Aaron Fox and the Spurs.

Held in check

Luguentz Dort opens the second half with a transiton dunk. Luguentz Dort opens the second half with a transiton dunk

Isaiah Hartenstein finds a cutting Luguentz Dort for the jam. Isaiah Hartenstein finds a cutting Luguentz Dort for the jam

The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to move closer to clinching the best record in the Western Conference when they travel to San Antonio to face the struggling, short-handed Spurs on Sunday.