The Oklahoma City Thunder are lucky to have Luguentz Dort on board. After arriving in 2019, nobody gave him a chance, and he went undrafted. But OKC signed him up on a two-way contract, and Dort spent some time in the G League before finally making it to the NBA. He plays the game of basketball just like he grew up—tough, gritty, and brave enough to put his body on the line.
So, considering we know about his basketball career, we explore his roots and learn more about his family members. Dort appreciates his parents for raising him. And yes, they have raised a solid player and a wonderful human being.
Luguentz Dort’s Parents Migrated To Canada From Haiti at 21
Dort was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and plays for the Canadian senior men’s national basketball team. His father, Lufruentz Dort, and his mother, Erline Mortel, arrived in Canada when they were 21. They migrated from Saint-Marc, Haiti, to Montreal to start a new chapter in their life. Back in Haiti, his father was a school principal, and after moving to Canada, he became a taxi driver and a company owner, according to Andscape.
Likewise, his mother worked in a manufacturing company and was involved in the clothing sector. But Dort never forgot his roots. Despite growing up in Canada, his parents taught him the rich Haitian history, culture, and food. In Canada alone, 179,000 people of Haitian descent live in and around Montreal. Dort mentioned how it felt to have all these people around, and he felt like he lived in Haiti.
“I was living in Canada, but I felt like I was in Haiti the whole time,” said Dort, proud of his ethnicity. He spoke about Haitian people’s past struggles and their hard battle to get to a good place. Dort keeps noting how many Haitians have their pride intact, and he’s lucky to represent them. He’s also the fifth of six children, and his siblings are Daphney, Ludnie, Berline, Frantz Jr., and Eveno.
Surprisingly, he played soccer first rather than basketball. These keepers prevent the opposition from putting the ball into the back of the net, and most importantly, they must be brave. Dort certainly wears his heart on his sleeve while defending his basket, and his goalkeeping experience gives him that.
According to the Montreal Gazette, he spoke about how basketball saved his life. Dort stated, “Montreal North’s a tough neighbourhood. Some of my friends went the wrong way. I felt like basketball basically saved me.”
Dort’s life has been a rollercoaster journey: from being undrafted to signing a four-year, $5.4 million deal and being referred to as the “Dortress”, he has come a long way. Dort is one of the best defenders in the league.
He will continue to be a solid player for the Thunder until his contract expires. Dort hopes to win a championship with OKC, and long may his dreams continue.
