Suns’ Frank Vogel Says NBA Has To Look At All The Flopping Thunder’s Lu Dort Does

Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel told NBA reporter Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic that Oklahoma City Thunder forward Lu Dort flops too much.

The Suns lost to the Thunder on March 29 by 25 points.

"The league has got to look all the flopping that Lu Dort does cause it's ridiculous how he gets calls. If they're going to get calls like that, then you're going to have an advantage. You can't just fall down every time there's contact and get a whistle." Frank Vogel. #Suns pic.twitter.com/totj43OfW3

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 30, 2024

The Thunder beat the Suns by a final score of 128-103. Phoenix star guard Devin Booker was called for five fouls.

Dort wasn’t called for a single foul. He drew two offensive foul calls.

“The league has got to look all the flopping that Lu Dort does cause it’s ridiculous how he gets calls,” Vogel said. “If they’re going to get calls like that, then you’re going to have an advantage. You can’t just fall down every time there’s contact and get a whistle.”

Vogel said half of the Suns’ 14 turnovers were “whistle” or dead-ball turnovers. The Thunder scored 15 points off Phoenix’s 14 total turnovers.

The Thunder have the best record in the Western Conference at 52-22. Meanwhile, the Suns are in eighth place in the West at 43-31.

If the regular season ended today, Phoenix would face the Sacramento Kings in the 7-8 play-in tournament game in Sacramento. 

OKC went 3-0 against Phoenix this season. The Thunder are third in the NBA in points per game, 12th in points per game allowed and second in net rating. They look like championship contenders. 

The Suns are 10th in the NBA in points per game, 16th in points per game allowed and 10th in net rating. 

“I like our chances of getting anybody regardless,” Suns star Kevin Durant said. “Who knows, maybe we’ll see them again. But you’ve got to tip your hat to them. They play a great brand of basketball.”

If the Suns make the playoffs and face the Thunder, both Vogel and Dort would certainly be asked about Vogel’s “flopping” comments about Dort. That would be a fun seven-game series with Durant facing his former team.