Star Guard of the Oklahoma City Thunder founded Maison Dort, a non-profit organization to improve the lives of underserved youth. where i am playing now. "
I couldn't predict where he would be today. At 23, he's the star guard for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, who just signed an $87.5 million contract.
Dort, who is also a member of Canada's senior men's basketball team, laughs in a phone interview that he "didn't dream of it." "I couldn't believe it was possible to sign such a contract. But it shows what can happen."
Dort was determined to return the favor. , determined to give skeptical kids like him the message that wildest dreams can come true.
He founded the nonprofit Maison Dort to improve the lives of underserved youth not only in Montreal, but also in Oklahoma City and central Arizona, where he attended Arizona State University. I was there.
To that end, Dort will return to his home in Montreal on Saturday to mentor more than 100 of his children from various neighborhoods at his Rosa Beast camp. Seeing children play basketball at his event, he tells a moving story.
It's about bringing it to a place, where you went to college, and where you play now," he says. “I want to go back to where I was given the opportunity and it has brought me to where I am today. It allowed me to pursue my dreams.
"The plan I have now." We want to use our platform to give back and do everything we can to ensure that children and families in underserved communities have equal opportunities and support to pursue their dreams.
Dort candidly admits that his life could have gone in a completely different direction, as it did for many of the people he grew up with. . Despite the fact that his father was a school principal, he spent his formative years far more intent on enjoying life on the sometimes run-down streets of northern Montreal than in pursuing an education.
"The path I grew up in was not an easy one. At first, apart from my parents, I had no one to guide me," says Haiti. Dort, son of immigrants, says. "I didn't do well in school and could have gone in a different direction, but sports really helped steer me in the right direction."
Age 12 Until then, Dort's only involvement in the sport was as a football goalkeeper. In a twist of fate, at that age he showed up at the Park Extension gym, where he caught the eye of Park Ex-Knights basketball coach Nelson Osse. Dort's life took a dramatic turn around, and he attended school in Florida and Ontario before heading to Arizona, where he appeared for the College Suns He Devils and was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. .
After a freshman year and being undrafted, Dort signed his first deal with the Thunder in 2019. He quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the franchise and signed a major contract. July.
Yet his Dort always had to prove himself. Even at 6-foot-3, he's considered short for his NBA guard.
"When you're little in the NBA, you need a few tricks. “I had to earn respect, earn playing time, and work hard all the time. That's the message I want to convey.”
In May, he also promised to play for three years on the Canadian senior men's national basketball team.
"I always represent Canada, but wherever I go I represent Haiti, the country of my family," said his six brothers. The Fifth Dot says. "My parents had such a hard time getting us here." Like many others, Dort said his NBA franchise in Montreal was viable. I feel.
"That's good. Basketball is really growing in Montreal, and I think there's a fan base here that supports the team. Also, the Canadian team has qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics. There are many players here and around the country who have a lot of respect for playing in the NBA and the national team, said Dort, who hopes to win the NBA. I really think the day will come when we'll acquire a team."
Of course, Dort could hasten the process by investing some of the money in acquiring franchises.
74} "That might be the plan," he countered.Certainly. And like everything else in Dort's life, it's not beyond the realm of possibility. } twitter.com/billbrownstein
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