Thunder Defensive Ace Says OKC 'Not Gonna Change' Aimed Interview Push Back

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a post game tradition which includes, screaming, barking, chemistry and joy. Despite push back on these antics, Lu Dort says the interviews will continue.

Nov 1, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams (8) while surrounded by his teammates after the game against the Portland Trailblazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Murphy-Imagn Images / Brian Murphy-Imagn Images

A tradition unlike any other, the Thunder postgame interviews. After each win for the past two seasons, Oklahoma City players engulf sideline reporter Nick Gallo for their walk off interviews that at times includes the entire team huddled up around the microphone and everyone at the edge of their seat waiting on who will be the game's "barker," an exclimation point on each victory for a team that embodies the definition of dogs.

While these moments are cherished in Bricktown, those same lovable hounds are not well received by some. Including Draymond Green who grabbed his podcast microphone last week to cite these interviews as a sign that the Thunder are not ready to win at a high level.

“The one thing I see about the OKC team that’s alarming to me is their postgame. Seven guys in the interview. There’s a certain seriousness it takes to win in this league. And there’s a certain fear you have to instill in teams in order to win. I just don’t know if they’re instilling that fear in teams with all the bromance and stuff after the game," Green said on his show.

These are comments defensive ace Lu Dort is unbothered by, saying the team will not change no matter the push back even from a future Hall of Famer.

“We’re focused on what we’re doing here. Not really paying attention to that type of stuff. I’ve seen it. It’s a comment from every other comment on TV. We’ll just keep focusing on what we’re doing," Dort said.

When asked specifically about the aspect of team's fearing the Thunder, the defensive ace continued, dismissing the notion and reiterating that the team will continue the tradition.

“I don’t think that has anything to do with how we act after a game. At the end of the game, we are going to play the way we play. If a team fears us or not, we’re gonna keep doing what we’re doing,” Dort said after shoot around on Monday ahead of their tilt with the Orlando Magic.

This is a controversy that even spans to OKC Blue Media Day where rookie two-way forward Alex Ducas was asked about the Thunder's post-game ritual that featured him going off course to discuss Green's comments unprompted.

“It shows how much of a team we are, and shows how united the guys are as a group… I saw recently Draymond [Green] commented that it wasn't professional enough or wasn't giving a scary enough vibe for another team. But when I look at that and see how united the guys are. And everyone wants to be a part of another person's success, whoever was having the interview at the time. It just shows how close this organization is and how much they care for one another and how much they love one another. So to me, I think it's awesome. I love being a part of it," Ducas said at Blue Media Day.

---

Want to join the discussion? Like Thunder on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.