NBA Stars Ben Mathurin and Lu Dort give Haitians another reason to watch the NBA in historic 2025 finals run

Overview:

Bennedict “Ben” Mathurin and Luguentz “Lu” Dort—two Haitian-Canadian NBA standouts—are central figures in this year’s NBA Finals. Both credit their Haitian heritage for shaping their identity and resilience, on and off the court.

 This year’s NBA Finals are marking more than a contest for the championship—it’s also a celebration of Haitian pride on the court. Bennedict “Ben” Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers and Luguentz “Lu” Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder are two of the most visible Haitian-Canadian athletes in professional basketball. As their teams battle for the 2025 NBA title, both players carry the culture, language and values of Haiti onto the global stage.

Both players have brought Haitian culture from Montreal to the NBA. And they are not shy about it. “Obviously, two guys with similar stories from the same town playing in the NBA finals will be huge,” Dort said in a recent post-game interview. 

“We’re very proud, and people back home are thrilled knowing that in the end, one of us will bring the championship to Montreal.”  

Mathurin, 22, born in Montreal, is the son of Haitian immigrants. Raised in a household where Haitian Creole was spoken daily, he was immersed in Haitian food, music and customs from an early age. His mother, Elvie Jeune, ensured that the family’s heritage was central to their identity.

Just three years and two months separate the Haitian-Canadian stars.

Dort, 26, also born in Montreal to Haitian parents and growing up in the same neighborhood as Mathurin, had a similar experience of his Haitian culture being a strong source of strength, according to a TK interview with Sportsnet. Dort often speaks of watching documentaries on Haitian history to deepen his understanding of his lineage.

How did these two first-generation Haitian Canadians make it to the NBA?

Mathurin’s journey included a bold decision to leave Canada at 16 and join the NBA Academy in Mexico City. From there, he starred at the University of Arizona, where in his freshman year, he was named PAC-12 Player of the Year and a Second Team All-American. He was picked sixth overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 2022 NBA Draft.

For his part, convinced by his brothers, Dort chose basketball over soccer at 12 and relocated to Florida to find a more competitive training environment. After graduating from high school, he committed to play for Arizona State University. He had a standout freshman season at Arizona State, including a 33-point performance against Utah State. Dort went undrafted in 2019 but signed a two-way contract with the Thunder. His defensive tenacity, assisted by his ability to use his larger build along with his leadership, earned him a full NBA deal in 2020.

Breakout seasons and Finals impact

Mathurin had a standout rookie year and was named to the 2022–23 NBA All-Rookie First Team. On Nov. 10, 2024, he scored a career-high 38 points against the New York Knicks. He’s currently in year three of a four-year, $29.9 million rookie deal, with a contract extension expected in summer 2026.

Dort, now a defensive anchor for Oklahoma City, signed a whopping five-year, $82.5 million contract extension in 2023. This season, he was named to the NBA’s 2024–25 First Team All-Defense, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders, according to NBA.com.

Despite their battle for supremacy, the two NBA stars know each other well and have a good relationship. Here’s what Dort revealed about his relationship with Mathurin ahead of their face-off in the finals, in an interview with Essentially Sports: “Ben is kinda a brother to me, honestly,” Dort said ahead of their face-off in the finals. 

“We grew up in the same neighborhood. Our people know each other. We spend a lot of time together during the offseason.”

“We’re very proud, and people back home are thrilled knowing that in the end, one of us will bring the championship to Montreal.”

Luguentz “Lu” Dort, Shooting Guard of Oklahoma City Thunder

Through the first two games of the series, the teams have been tight, holding a record of 1-1. Dort has been the primary defender on Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, showing his defensive acumen by holding the star to under 20 points in both games. 

Mathurin struggled in his minutes during game one, but bounced back by leading his team in points off the bench with 14. 

The two players now prepare for Game 3, which will be in Indiana Wednesday night at 8:30 EST.

Giving back to Haiti with a legacy in motion

Beyond basketball, both players remain connected to their Haitian roots.

In October 2023, Mathurin donated Adidas gear to more than 300 Haitian children. Dort’s commitment is even more institutional. He founded the Maizon Dort Foundation to support underprivileged Haitian-Canadian youth in Quebec, focusing on education, mentorship and athletics. In 2020, during the NBA Playoffs in the Orlando bubble, Dort wore the Haitian Creole phrase “Respekte Nou” on his jersey—which means “Respect Us,” a bold statement that resonated far beyond the court.

With the NBA postseason approaching, players of Haitian heritage are making their mark across the NBA and G League.

“Haitians are often overlooked,” Dort said at the time. “I wanted to show we deserve to be seen and respected.”

As both players prepare for what could be career-defining moments in the 2025 NBA Finals, they do so with more than just basketball on their minds. For Mathurin and Dort, this is about representing where they came from—and inspiring others who share their roots.

These two are helping pave a path for future Haitian athletes. A path that follows in the footsteps of former players, including Mario Elie, Olden Polynice, Samuel Dalembert, Skal Labissière and Nerlens Noel. All these former NBA players fully and proudly embraced their Haitian heritage in their journeys.

Whether in Port-au-Prince, Montreal, across US cities or other regions of the world, fans will be watching the rest of the NBA finals not only for the love of the game but for the pride these two athletes bring.                                                

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