Lu Dort doesn't need a consistent outside shot to be an incredibly impactful player.
His defense, alone, is enough to warrant him playing starter-level minutes - whether he's among the first five or not. When the jumper is falling, though, he reaches a whole new level. Oklahoma City Thunder fans know it all too well, and those who are currently keeping up with the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers are beginning to learn it, too.
Hopefully, the Atlanta Hawks are next in line. After trading for Dort - giving up former first-overall pick Zaccharie Risacher in the deal - they're going to need him at his best. His recent play is a very encouraging sign.
Dort dominated Argentina in Canada's recent FIBA victory
His dominance got started early.
Canada's first basket of the night was a Dort three, assisted by none other than Nickeil Alexander-Walker - his brand-new NBA teammate.
These two have been repping their country alongside each other for years, giving them already-established chemistry entering the year. Dort's transition into the Hawks' lineup should be seamless, especially if he can keep up his efficient attack from beyond the arc.
The first three of the night clearly set the tone for the rest of the game, as Dort never lost a step.
He was forced into a quick pause, though, as he picked up his second foul midway through the first quarter. As soon as he checked back in during the next frame, he came out firing.
A Canada run followed Dort's reinsertion. His second triple of the night pushed it to a 10-0 flurry. He became the first player on their team to surpass double-digits for the evening.
The second half saw a similar script to that of the first. Dort was firing, knocking down two more triples before the fourth quarter began. He finished the night with 25 points on 44.4% from deep.
This is an early indicator that last season's struggles were an outlier
Again, Dort's defense has never lost a step, but last season, his shooting did.
The season prior, he shot above 41% from deep - an incredibly elite mark. That percentage dipped all the way down to 34.4% the year after.
Dort knocking down four threes and leading his team to victory shouldn't come as a surprise, as this is simply what he does. A down-year shouldn't make people forget just how impactful he was to Oklahoma City's championship run.
Now, it's time for him to do the same with Atlanta.
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