It’s been a terrific series between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. Two teams battle it out for supremacy, and the word “battle” symbolizes Luguentz Dort’s playing style in the Finals. Playing rough-and-tough, Dort’s perimeter defense mostly hurts the opposition. But with all the seriousness of the Finals, let’s have some fun.
On the other hand, Dyson Daniels became the Most Improved Player of the Year with the Atlanta Hawks. They are building something special in Atlanta, and Daniels’ terrifying defense earned him the NBA Steals Leader for this season with 3.0. Enjoying his offseason, he appeared at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse to have a friendly chat with Dort. The topic of discussion is nicknames.
Dyson Daniels Rates Nicknames With Luguentz Dort
Both players give their all on defense and have earned their nicknames. The Hawks fans call him ‘The Great Barrier Thief,’ considering his roots in Australia and the country’s Great Barrier Reef, the world’s most extensive coral reef system. As the NBA’s steals leader, Daniels earned the moniker ‘Thief.’
The ‘Dorture Chamber’ is another nickname prominent in the NBA in the past several months because of his intense defense. Speaking about how he earned the nickname, Dort said to Daniels, “I noticed it on Twitter. I don’t know, randomly at some point, I [had] seen a bunch of pictures, memes, and all that, and I was like, ‘That’s a nice name.'”
The Great Barrier Thief or The Dorture Chamber? 🤔@DysonDaniels & @luthebeast discuss their nicknames! pic.twitter.com/dhSbAqNiQG
— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2025
Daniels was also eager to find out which nickname he preferred. Playing it safe, Dort mentioned, “Honestly, they are both nice, bro. Yours is actually, I can’t hate.” But soon, he loved his moniker and spoke, “But I like ‘Dorture Chamber,’ bro. The fans have shown me love, so I will definitely go with ‘Dorture Chamber.'”
It fits him well, considering Dort’s defensive plays in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Suffocating Opponents Makes Dort a Great Defender; No Pun Intended
Exploring his stats, Dort’s defensive skill set in the playoffs stands apart. Always up for doubling up on opposition and bouncing players off his stocky body, Dort hustles for every single possession. Due to his high-pressure defense, Dort has 1.3 steals per game in these playoffs.
With a defensive +/- of 1.4 and a steal% of 2.2, Dort dominates the games from start to finish, putting the opposition on the back foot. His lateral quickness and active hands keep the rivals on their toes, and he also takes charge while cutting the driving lanes. Although he plays on the edge with rival fans calling him out, he wears his heart on his sleeve.
If the Thunder won the series, Dort would have played a significant role in their triumph. The ‘Dorture Chamber’ prepares for combat in Game 3 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.