New Atlanta Hawks acquisition Lu Dort has tumbled 36 places on ESPN's annual ranking of the top 100 NBA players. The rugged defender, acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason, fell from No. 64 last year to No. 100 entering the 2026-27 campaign. This drop comes as the Hawks integrate the 2025 NBA champion into their core, a process that coincides with the team's recent form showing three wins in their last five outings, including a 124-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 10.
Dort's value has never been solely about his scoring average. He is a premier perimeter defender who took on 1,238 matchups against 2026 All-Stars last season. That was the third-highest total in the entire league. His defensive prowess earned him a spot on the All-Defensive First Team in 2024-25, a season that culminated in him helping the Thunder win the NBA championship.
His offensive numbers with Oklahoma City last season were modest. Dort averaged 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game across 69 appearances. He shot 38.5% from the field and 34.4% from three-point range. In the 2026 playoffs, his averages dipped to 5.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as the Thunder fell to the San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game Western Conference Finals.
Dort's slide in the rankings could serve as powerful motivation. He joins a Hawks squad that showed flashes of competitiveness last postseason. Atlanta was the only team to beat the eventual Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks twice in the 2026 playoffs, despite losing the first-round series. The team's most recent result was a 143-117 loss to the Miami Heat on April 12, but their form reads LWLWW over the last five.
The franchise's centerpiece is now Jalen Johnson. In the post-Trae Young era, Johnson had a phenomenal 2025-26 season. He averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. That stat line made him just the fifth player in NBA history to average at least 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 7.5 assists for a season, joining legends Wilt Chamberlain, Nikola Jokic, Oscar Robertson, and Russell Westbrook.
Dort's transition to Atlanta should be smoothed by the presence of his close friend and fellow Canadian national team member, Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Hawks also added another former Thunder player in Aaron Wiggins this offseason, creating a familiar environment. Dort is entering the final year of his contract, set to earn $17,722,222 before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer.
His role will be to lock down opposing stars and provide toughness. If the ranking snub fuels a bounce-back season, it would significantly boost Atlanta's playoff ambitions. The Hawks have the pieces, with Johnson's all-around brilliance and a reinforced defensive identity. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page as they aim to turn potential into consistent wins.
