NBA champion Luguentz Dort returned to his roots on Thursday, carrying the Larry O’Brien Trophy through the streets of Montreal North — the same borough where he first dreamed of making it big.
Two months after helping the Oklahoma City Thunder clinch Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Dort was welcomed back by a crowd of fans lining the streets for a celebratory homecoming parade.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Luguentz Dort holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy during the NBA championship parade in his hometown Montreal North, Aug. 21, 2025. (Corinne Boyer, CityNews)
The event, held at Pilon Park, was more than just a victory lap — it was a moment of pride and inspiration for the entire community.
“It makes me feel really good honestly,” Dort said, reflecting on the impact of seeing so many young fans wearing his jersey. “At a young age, coming from here, I didn’t have a specific guy to look at to be like I want to be like them. And then to be in this position to the kids’ eyes today, it’s huge. It just shows how the work really is paying off and how much I carry this city and this neighborhood with a lot of problems.”
The celebration ran from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and featured a full lineup of family-friendly activities, including music, live performances, a photo session with the NBA trophy, sports games, and a free BBQ. At the heart of it all was Dort — affectionately known as “Lu” or “LuTheBeast” — sharing his time with local kids and community members.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Luguentz Dort holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy during the NBA championship parade in his hometown Montreal North, Aug. 21, 2025. (Corinne Boyer, CityNews)
Dort: “Any success I have, I want to share with my people”
The 25-year-old took time during the festivities to revisit places that shaped his journey: Saint-Laurent Park, where he first picked up a basketball, and the home he grew up in. It was a full-circle moment for the Montreal native, who recently made history not only with his NBA title but also by representing Canada in his first Olympic appearance at Paris 2024.
“Any success I have, I want to share with my people,” Dort said. “Honestly, like I said, there’s not a lot of us that get to make it to the big stage. As soon as we won, I got to come back home with it. Especially where I grew up. I had a long day. I went to the park I used to play at when I was young. I went in front of my house that I grew up in. Now I’m here with even more kids and more and more actions. So I’m really happy to be here.”
Fans swarm Lu Dort at his homecoming parade in Montreal, Aug. 21, 2025. (Corinne Boyer, CityNews)
A symbol of pride for Montreal North
Born in 1999 to Haitian parents in Montreal North, Dort’s rise to NBA stardom was fueled by perseverance, community support, and exceptional athleticism.
After a standout college career at Arizona State University, he joined the Thunder in 2019 and went on to sign a five-year, US$87.5 million contract.
A child high-fives a mascot at the Lu Dort NBA championship parade in Montreal North, Aug. 21, 2025. (Corinne Boyer, CityNews)
He co-founded the Maizon Dort Foundation in 2022, which supports youth from underserved communities in Montreal, Oklahoma City, and Arizona.
In 2025, Dort earned a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team, further cementing his reputation as one of the league’s top two-way players. Now, he stands as a beacon of hope for a new generation of Montreal athletes.
The homecoming parade, which saw hundreds of fans take to the Montreal borough where Dort grew up, came one day after the basketball star signed the Golden Book at Montreal’s city hall.