Q. As you look at this whole season and the number of games you all played in such a short period of time, all the things you had to deal with, what stands out to you about the way you all kind of handled this season as a team?
LUGUENTZ DORT: I just feel like every single guy has got better this year. I know that was our main focus. I felt like we did a good job with that. This off-season it came back to this season, I just feel like a lot of guys are going to be in the gym and work on their games and stuff just to be able to come back stronger. That was the big thing for us this year, and I feel like we were doing it the right way.
Q. Yourself as kind of an elite defender, what have you learned about not only impacting kind of your one-on-one match-ups but how you as a defender can impact your entire team on that end of the floor in kind of the 5-man defense?
LUGUENTZ DORT: To really start it, I've got to lead by example and just be playing really hard and make it tough for anybody I guard, and my teammates see, and I feel like it helps, and it just touches everybody.
Q. This time last year of course, we were in the middle of the shutdown. You were not even signed to a full contract. Your future was somewhat up in the air. Now you're considered a Thunder franchise cornerstone. Do you marvel at how far your status and your reputation as a personality and a player in the NBA has come in such a short amount of time?
LUGUENTZ DORT: Yeah, I mean, it was short, but I always feel like it's the work that I put in, and that was one of my goals. I'm going to keep doing the same stuff, play the right way, and be the same person that I am and always try to compete really hard. That's just me. I'm humble and grateful for that, and I'm looking forward to the next season.
Q. What's your next step as a player? You've made such strides here in a short amount of time. What's next for you in your development?
LUGUENTZ DORT: I always feel like there's room to improve a lot. Probably being more vocal, more of a leader, that's probably one of the big things, but overall just my whole game really. The off-season is kind of for that, trying to add some more stuff and just to work on it really hard. So yeah.
Q. You were able to get a lot of new experiences this year. I'm just thinking back to being able to be primary ball handler out there on the floor. How much did you feel like you grew in that area, and how much did you cherish that experience?
LUGUENTZ DORT: A lot. I mean, it was one of the things that before the season the coaches was talking to me about just developing that, and I feel like they did a great job with me, and I feel like I did a good job handling that, too. It's not an easy position at this level, and it took some time, but I feel like I can still improve.
Q. Is making an All-Defensive team a goal you've ever set, or is that something you'll pay attention to when those ballots are revealed?
LUGUENTZ DORT: I mean, it's definitely a goal. I play hard to be rewarded one day, so hopefully it happens. If it doesn't happen, it's all good. I'm going to still keep playing the same way.
Q. We've talked a lot about your offensive improvement this year. In what areas defensively do you think you've improved from last year?
LUGUENTZ DORT: My main thing was to stay out of foul trouble. That was a big thing kind of last year, and really doing more, like studying more on my opponents, watching really a lot of film just to know their best tricks. So that was one thing I did this year.
Q. I know you've said in the past that you plan to play for Team Canada if that's an option for you. Given how condensed this season was and how much of a physical toll it took, how are you preparing for that, and what kind of grind would that be if you're playing more games like that this summer?
LUGUENTZ DORT: I mean, it will be a grind for sure, but that's what I love doing. I actually want to play for Team Canada this year. I've never played for Team Canada. That will be cool to represent my country, so hopefully it happens.
Q. I'm assuming it would be cool to play with Shai, too. He said he's open to playing if he's healthy. What would that be like to team up together for Team Canada?
LUGUENTZ DORT: Yeah, that would be cool, just two Thunder guys on the Canadian team, and we'll be able to represent Canada at the same time we represent OKC.
Q. You've become kind of a cult hero online, like on Reddit, on Twitter. How much of that stuff do you see, and what do you think when you see it? People make cartoons about you. People make all kinds of stuff. You've become one of the guys. You go on the Thunder Reddit page, and there's a Daily Dort every day. Nobody else gets that. I'm curious what your thoughts are on stuff like that.
LUGUENTZ DORT: I just see it sometimes. Sometimes I go on my phone just to check. I feel like it's pretty funny. It's nice to see that the fans are doing all that. I feel like it's pretty funny and entertaining. Every time I watch it, I'm going to just laugh.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports