CAP-HAÏTIEN — In 2015, when Port-au-Prince was safer, Varona Jean-Charles and Otniel Despagne often trekked late at night—pacing the pitch-black streets—to watch NBA basketball games at a friend’s house due to frequent power outages. They would sometimes return home as late as 1:00 a.m. Those nights of camaraderie, held dearly to Despagne’s heart, are now a distant memory. Gang violence forced Jean-Charles to leave the capital in 2021, and Despagne no longer risks venturing out into the streets.
Now, Despagne often watches alone on his phone, fully charged and set to “do not disturb,” finding spots with a decent internet signal. The effort is worth it. Two players of Haitian origin—Luguentz “Lu” Dort and Bennedict “Ben” Mathurin—are facing off in the NBA Finals, lifting Haitian spirits worldwide with pride.
“Two players being of Haitian origin means a lot for us,” said Despagne, 28. “Lu Dort and Ben Mathurin have really impressed me in the finals. They have exceeded our expectations. They’re playing at another level.”
Dort, a defensive force for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Mathurin, an emerging scorer for the Indiana Pacers, are the first two players of Haitian descent to clash in an NBA Finals. Their performances have energized fans in Haiti, who brave unreliable electricity, slow internet and insecurity just to tune in—every game. Many firmly believe that other Haitian athletes can follow in the footsteps of Dort and Mathurin.
“Watching them play makes me think that other Haitians can also play at that level if the government supports us,” said Jean-Charles, 29.
From Lebron and Kobe to Lu and Ben
Jean-Charles discovered basketball in 2008 through a local sports show, praising Lebron James. Despagne started in 2007 after hearing constant buzz about Kobe Bryant. Now living in Léogâne, Jean-Charles watches games at a friend’s house nearby. If it gets too late, he finishes watching on Facebook at home.
“I watch the games with a lot of pleasure,” Jean-Charles said. “At the end of the finals, either way, the Haitian flag will be waved. The country is proud.”
“Lu Dort and Ben Mathurin have really impressed me in the finals. They have exceeded our expectations. They’re playing at another level.”
Otniel Despagne, basketball fan
OKC leads the series 3-2 with Game 6 set for Thursday, June 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET, at Pacers’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis. An OKC victory crowns Dort a champion; a defeat gives Mathurin and the Pacers a shot at Game 7 in Oklahoma on Sunday, June 22, at 8:00 p.m. EST.
Dort, 26, has shone defensively and offensively. Known for lockdown defense, he’s also hit 58.3% of his three-pointers—four in Game 1 alone, placing him among the best in Finals history.
“When you’re in the NBA, you can’t just be productive defensively,” Jean-Charles said. “You have to bring something offensively, too. And in some games, he really helped carry OKC.”
Mathurin, the sixth overall pick in 2022, has made his mark off the bench. The 22-year-old dropped 27 points in one game—the most off the bench in an NBA Finals since 2011.
Dort or Mathurin: No matter who wins, Haiti wins— the two friends agree
Despite not seeing each other for four years, Despagne and Jean-Charles stay in touch. And of course, some of their chats always involve basketball. They have different predictions for Game 6 and ultimately for who could win it all.
Despagne backs Indiana. “They will do whatever it takes to get to Game 7,” he said. “The fans will be with them.”
Jean-Charles believes OKC will finish it. “The team that deserves the title more is OKC,” he said. “I think the series will end on Thursday night.”