Quebecers Luguentz Dort and Chris Boucher both signed new – and lucrative – contracts with their respective teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Toronto Raptors, Thursday night.
Posted at 7:20 p.m.
Luguentz Dort has reportedly agreed to a five-year, $87.5 million deal with the Thunder, his agent Thad Foucher told ESPN. He will therefore pocket an average of 17.5 million per year until 2027, which makes him the highest paid Quebec athlete, all sports combined.
Never drafted, Dort has become one of the mainstays of the Thunder over the past three seasons. He had 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 51 games until a season-ending left shoulder injury in February.
The native of Montreal North went under the knife in March, but should be back for the start of the next campaign. Crossed in the paddocks of the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit during the Grand Prix of Canada, two weeks ago, the 23-year-old athlete claimed to be “growing up in the NBA at the moment”. “Every year, I get better,” he added.
We bet he will improve even more in the coming seasons, when he is one of the key elements in the rebuilding of the Thunder.
For his part, Chris Boucher would have signed a new agreement of three seasons and 35.25 million with the Raptors, which will bring him an average of 11.75 million per year.
PHOTO KIM KLEMENT, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES
Chris Boucher (25) reportedly signed a three-year, $35.25 million contract with the Raptors.
At 29, Boucher has just played his fourth campaign with the Toronto team. He had 9.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 80 games this season.
There is a lot of good news these days for Quebec basketball. Just a week ago, Bennedict Mathurin became the highest drafted Quebecer in NBA history. Indiana Pacers made it 6e picks in total from the drafting session.