Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lou Dort, one of the favorites in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion, has experienced a resurgence in his sixth season with the team.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Dort's defensive intensity and precision earned him a surprising comparison to Hall of Fame security guard Deion Saunders.

A veteran scout said of the Thunder star: "Dort is like a good cornerback. It's like when Deion Sanders played, he didn't have huge stats, he knocked the opponent out of the game. Dort can knock top scorers out of their game. ”

Dort is catalyzing the Thunder's suffocating defensive unit. Oklahoma City has the second-best scoring defense in the league, conceding just 2.0 points. Dort has blocked some of the NBA's best players, including Luka Doncic and Donovan Mitchell.

Comparing Dort to Saunders illustrates how ferocious Dort's defense has been this season. Sanders is considered the best defensive guard in NFL history. The two-time champion, nicknamed "Golden Time," is an excellent pass defender.

Another scout said, "I'm not sure if Lew will be recognized on the street by the average fan outside of Oklahoma. But trust me, I've seen him get into the minds of some All-Star players. ”

The Thunder still have the best record in the league, 30.0 games ahead of the Houston Rockets at the top of the Western Conference standings. The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to start a new winning streak against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday (0-0) afternoon.

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