As the Thunder continue to grind to the top of the league, everything is falling into place. Despite suffering some tough setbacks, it’s safe to say that this is still Oklahoma City’s year for the taking. Most of OKC’s title defense year is going on a positive note, save for Luguentz Dort‘s three-point shooting, which is on a career-low since his rookie season.
Dort is one of the key players that the Thunder continue to rely on. It cannot be denied that he’s pivotal to their success so far. But how does his recent struggles in shooting from downtown actually play a huge role in his future?
Lu Dort’s Sudden 3-Point Shooting Drop is Alarming for OKC
Dort is clearly one of the two leaders in the team, the other being Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder guard is well-known for his two-way reliability. He is a superb on-ball defender, and a reliable shooter from three on the other end. If you are not impressed, Dort was shooting a career-high 41.2% from deep last season.
Dort’s Numbers Are Going Down
Mainly due to his injury, Lu Dort’s three-point shooting has been dropping for quite some time. He’s not getting the three to drop as he usually does. Sure, there are games where he’s still drilling those massive shots from deep. However, his past few games have been looking like tough shooting nights. OKC is a team that’s good at kicking out to open shooters, and their roster is filled with above-average players capable of knocking down these shots.
Despite being able to play 17 games so far, Dort is only shooting at 31.5% from deep. That’s his lowest percentage since his rookie season in 2019-20 (29.7%). That dip in shooting is starting to become worrisome—but not by a huge stretch. To be fair, he is shooting better than Alex Caruso, Ousmane Dieng, Branden Carlson, and Chris Youngblood—all of whom have played more than 17 games.
Lu Dort has made more 3-pointers in his first 7 seasons than Dirk Nowitzki had. pic.twitter.com/oLdQabkBOS
— OKC Thunder Stats (@ThunderNumbers) December 13, 2025
When it comes to totals, Dort has made 28 threes as of the time of writing, ranking eighth on the team in that category. But the fact that he’s dropping his shooting at this point in the season spells many concerns for the Thunder moving forward.
The Last 10 Games for Dort
In the last 10 games, he is hitting 39.6% of his threes, nailing 21 of 53 attempts. This is a good note, sure. However, he’s only had four games where he shot above 50% from deep. For a player considered to be the main 3-and-D winger for OKC, Dort’s performances are underwhelming so far. There are even talks as to how his future with the team is starting to be influenced by his poor outing so far this season.
But hey, a 10-game sample size should not be a glaring reason why fans should worry about him already. Remember that Game 5 stretch in the West Semis where he drilled three threes in a row to help OKC rally from a huge deficit? Well, without those heroics from the Thunder guard, we may not have seen a championship for Oklahoma City.
I will forever stand with Lu Dort. https://t.co/Dn3tEugWrO pic.twitter.com/wRQzLFALaF
— 𝙎𝙂𝘼 (@Playoffcity) December 14, 2025
In a sense, Dort deserves a lot of credit for being one of the staple players on the Thunder roster. He is grinding his way towards another All-Defense recognition this year. Sure, his role is starting to become Cason Wallace‘s, but his veteran experience still has value.
Should OKC Consider Replacing Dort?
On paper, it does look like Dort’s inconsistent game is becoming a big worry for the Thunder. However, the long run should always be in consideration for this team. Considering that they are building a potential dynasty, a flexible core should be in place. At this time, that’s already sure on SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. All of the other pieces are quite expendable to begin with.
However, suppoting players such as Dort will be on the move if he fails to impress further. There’s a lot of hope that he will continue to bring a whole lot of energy in OKC. After all, he is one of the biggest pieces in this new generation of Thunder basketball.
So, no. Replacing Dort is not a good idea for Oklahoma City. He is one of the prominent players in the squad, and he can still offer great potential to the team. Remember, he’s starting to gain momentum as one of the premier defenders in the league.
It should not take long for him to win DPOY anytime soon. Just because he’s struggling to shoot the three, doesn’t mean that Dort is losing his overall value.
© Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
