Brownstein: Luguentz Dort went from Montreal North to the NBA, and is paying it forward

Article content

A decade back, Montreal North native Luguentz Dort could not have anticipated where he is today: a star guard with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder who, at 23, just signed a US$87.5-million contract.

Article content

“Not in my wildest dreams,” says a chuckling Dort, also a member of Canada’s senior men’s basketball squad, in a phone interview. “I just never would have believed this to be possible, to sign a contract like that. But it really goes to show what can happen.”

Dort has now decided to give back, and to drive home the message to skeptical kids — like he once was — that wild dreams can come true.

He has created the non-profit organization Maizon Dort to help improve the lives of underserved youth in Montreal as well as in Oklahoma City and central Arizona, where he attended Arizona State University.

To that end, Dort heads back home to Montreal on Saturday to offer guidance to more than 100 kids from different neighborhoods at Lu the Beast Camp, taking place at Center William-Hingston on St-Roch St. Aside from watching the kids play basketball at his event, he will be imparting his inspirational story.

Article content

“The plan is to bring this program to where I grew up, where I went to university and where I play now,” he says. “I want to go back to those places where I was given a chance and which got me to where I am today. I want to tell the kids how hard it was for me to move on at first, but to give them a vision about how school and sports can lead to a better path. It allowed me to pursue my dreams.

“With the platform I have now, I want to do as much as I can to give back and make sure kids and families from underserved communities are afforded equal opportunities and support to go after their dreams.”

Dort freely admits his life could have taken another turn entirely, as was the case for many with whom he grew up. He spent his formative years far more intent on soaking up life on the sometimes rough-and-tumble streets of Montreal North than on pursuing an education, despite the fact that his father was a school principal.

Article content

“My path wasn’t easy growing up, and apart from my parents I didn’t really have anyone to guide me at first,” says Dort, the son of Haitian immigrants. “I wasn’t very good at school, and I could have ended up going in another direction. But sports really helped point me in the right direction.”

Until he was 12, Dort’s sole involvement with sports was as a soccer goalie. By a quirk of fate, at that age he showed up at a gym in Parc-Extension, where he caught the eye of Parc-Ex Knights basketball coach Nelson Osse. Dort’s life turned around dramatically, leading him to schools in Florida and Ontario before he headed off to Arizona State, where he starred with the university’s Sun Devils and was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

Article content

Following his freshman year and after going undrafted, Dort signed his first contract with the Thunder in 2019. He soon established himself as a cornerstone for the franchise, leading to his massive contract signed in July.

Yet Dort always had to prove himself along the way. Even at 6-foot-3, he is considered on the short side for an NBA guard.

“You’ve got to have a few tricks when you’re a small guy in the NBA. But I’ve always felt that I’ve had to earn everything with all the teams, schools and places where I’ve been,” he says. “I really had to earn respect, to earn my playing time and to keep working hard all the time. Nothing was ever given to me. That’s the message from my story I want to get across to kids.”

In May, he also committed to playing three years with Canada’s senior men’s national basketball team.

Article content

“I’m always representing Canada, but also Haiti, the country of my family, wherever I go,” says Dort, the fifth of six children. “My parents worked so hard to get us here.”

Like many others, Dort feels an NBA franchise in Montreal could be viable.

“That would be great. I think basketball has really grown in Montreal and that we also have the fan base to support a team here. We also have a lot of players from here and around the country who are now getting a lot of respect for their play in the NBA and on our national team,” says Dort, who is hoping the Canadian team can qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics. in Paris.

“I do really think the day will come when Montreal gets an NBA team.”

Of course, Dort could expedite the process by investing some of his funds in helping to acquire a franchise.

“That could be a plan,” he shoots back.

Indeed. And just like everything else in Dort’s life, it isn’t beyond the realm of possibility.

[email protected]

twitter.com/billbrownstein