An elite scorer in the big league, Damian Lillard knows how to recognize a high-caliber defender when he comes across one. He also revealed which player was the best in this sector according to him lately and interestingly, we are far from talking about a star.
His season will eventually end at 58 games, with the Blazers resting him with the playoffs out of reach. but Damian Lillard has been busy this year, finishing with his career-best scoring average (32 points per game). All with very solid percentages, based on 46% shooting including 37% from afar and 91% on the free throw line.
Clearly, few defenders have been able to extinguish the Portland star in recent months. However, one of them really caught his eye and he did not hesitate to praise him recently, declaring outright that he was the best defender in the league today. To know the identity of the lucky winner, you have to turn to the side of the Thunder, division rival of Rip City:
Luguentz Dort publicly dubbed by Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard says Lu Dort is the best defender in the NBA: https://t.co/fWF0WVGs05
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 29, 2023
Lu sleeps. I think he has the perfect balance between strength, quickness, speed and the desire to defend. And he is young. So I think he is the best in this area.
Sorry Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green and other Marcus Smart, it is the Canadian wingman who has been favored by Dame DOLLA lately. It will surely please the 23-year-old who clearly did not steal the compliment.
In the shadow of a sparkling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at OKC (31 points on average), the guy is indeed delivering a solid campaign with 13 points, 4 rebounds and one interception per game and a defensive contribution that cannot be read. only in the stats. Above all, he showed that he could lock anyone on the floors, ask Kawhi Leonard which he foiled at the end of the meeting recently:
— Crumbletakes (@Crumbletakes) March 29, 2023
Constantly progressing at the Thunder, Luguentz Dort is gradually establishing himself as one of the most solid 3&Ds in the NBA. If he continues his momentum, we should see his name come back often in the DPOY race in the years to come. That’s all we can wish for him!
