Luguentz Dort Cleared to Play Saturday Amidst Shifting Role with Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort is cleared to play Saturday against the Hornets despite a shoulder concern. In 2023-24, Dort was a regular starter (79 games) but saw a regression in most categories for the second consecutive year, averaging 10.9 points per game—his lowest since his rookie season—along with declines in rebounds, assists, and steals. However, he achieved a career-high 39.4 percent from three-point range on 5.0 attempts. Looking ahead to 2024-25, Dort is projected for a bench role due to the rise of Jalen Williams and the additions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso, which will likely diminish his fantasy relevance. His career has seen him as a defensive specialist, notably guarding James Harden in the 2020 bubble playoffs, and he had a career-best 17.2 points per game in 2021-22.