Alex Caruso first came to Oklahoma City years ago, still possessing a full head of hair and holding onto faint hopes of making it in the NBA.
In September 2016, the Thunder extended Caruso an invitation to try out for an Exhibit 10 contract. This offered a $50,000 bonus and a potential spot on the roster of their G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.
He was one of six participants at the tryout, but what Caruso didn`t know was that the Oklahoma City management and coaching staff were primarily interested in evaluating only him.
Mark Daigneault, then the Blue`s coach and previously part of the Florida coaching staff before being recruited by Thunder GM Sam Presti, already admired Caruso`s intense competitive spirit from his time at Texas A&M. Daigneault recalled Caruso playing with such extraordinary effort during the latter half of a lopsided loss to Florida that he questioned if Caruso even realized the score.
According to Daigneault, the other players at the tryout were, “with all due respect, not professional-level basketball players.” Yet, Caruso still made a significant and memorable impact.
Daigneault, now in his fifth season as the Thunder`s head coach, recently told ESPN, “He quickly realized the others were lost. By the middle of the session, he was essentially running the drill himself. He was just being Caruso.”
That afternoon, Caruso secured one of the final spots on the Blue`s roster, receiving a $13,000 salary along with his bonus. During his single season there, he became a passionate leader, starting at point guard for a team that finished 34-16 and reached the second round of the G League playoffs.
Caruso attributes that season to developing his foundational skills, which proved crucial in establishing himself in the NBA as a defensive anchor, eventually winning a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. This season, he`s back in Oklahoma City, now viewed as the veteran presence on one of the league`s most youthful and skilled squads. Eight years after unofficially coaching players brought in for a tryout, Caruso immediately became a respected veteran, his guidance instrumental as the Thunder pursue a championship. Following a dramatic comeback win by the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the pressure is immense for Game 2 (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC) as Caruso and the Thunder aim to tie the series at home.
However, Caruso acknowledges his G League season was frustrating. He quietly persevered as his teammates received NBA call-ups ahead of him. He was also bypassed for a two-way contract, despite support from Daigneault and Brandon Barnett, the Blue`s GM at the time (now the Thunder`s director of pro personnel).
Caruso, with his characteristic dry humor, told ESPN that [Presti] “admitted to me he messed that one up.”
After his contract ended in 2017, Caruso departed Oklahoma City for Los Angeles. There, he turned a summer league opportunity into a two-way contract within a couple of years, becoming a crucial defensive specialist off the bench for the Lakers` 2019-20 championship squad. When the Lakers didn`t match the Bulls` four-year, $37 million offer – another case of underestimating Caruso`s value – he moved to Chicago in the summer of 2021, where he subsequently earned two All-Defensive team selections.
Presti finally rectified his earlier oversight by acquiring Caruso via trade last summer.
Caruso`s journey had come full circle back to Oklahoma City. He returned as a potentially crucial addition to the Thunder`s championship aspirations – the archetypal veteran role player known for his defense and ability to connect the offense, with a history of elevating superstar teammates.
His influence extends far beyond basic statistics.
Daigneault commented, “It`s fantastic having him back. I enjoy coaching him now just as much as I did before. What`s exciting is that our focus is now on the future, not just the past. Despite our shared history, there`s a significant path ahead for us together.”
Adding Caruso, alongside free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein, helped transform the Thunder from a contender into a potential title favorite this season. Given Oklahoma City`s young core, which includes MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams, and former No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren, Caruso was an ideal match, known for his disruptive defense and ability to facilitate offense and complement star players.
Caruso remarked, “From the start, I felt it would be a great pairing, considering my skills and what the team appeared to need. I also have a certain confidence and pride; I believe any team I join is going to succeed.”
Furthermore, Caruso, who turned 31 in February, offers invaluable intangible qualities to a team that is the second youngest in the shot-clock era to reach the NBA Finals.
In his press conference after the trade, Presti stated, “He is an immense competitor, and we aim to have as many players like him as possible. Specifically, I believe having that kind of basketball intellect significantly improves the entire team; we specifically sought that blend of passion and strategic thinking.”
Caruso`s function on the court adapts constantly, changing not only from game to game but sometimes even within a single quarter. In the playoffs, this has involved him taking on the primary defensive assignment against a diverse range of opposing stars, including quick guards like Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies and large centers like the 6-foot-11, 284-pound Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
Regarding Daigneault, Caruso commented, “It`s incredibly engaging because he`s like a genius mad scientist who enjoys fine-tuning strategies, finding tiny details and tactical advantages we can leverage.”
His statistical output, especially offensively, is seldom flashy. With career averages of 6.9 points and 2.8 assists, he has only averaged double-digit scoring in one season (10.1 points for the Bulls in 2023-24). Nevertheless, his constant energy and defensive impact make him a noticeable presence on the court.
A prime example of his effectiveness this playoff run was his performance against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic in Game 7. While the Thunder occasionally used a strategy of aggressively fronting Jokic with defensive help in the series, Daigneault recognized it wasn`t physically feasible for Caruso to maintain a primary defensive assignment against a player with nearly a 100-pound weight advantage over a full seven-game series. But for a single decisive game?
Daigneault recalled thinking, “Let`s try this early and see what happens.” The result, he said, “spread like wildfire.”
According to GeniusIQ tracking, Caruso was matched up against Jokic in 40 half-court possessions during that game – the highest number for any guard throughout Jokic`s 839 career regular season and playoff games. Caruso limited Jokic to just 0.78 points per play. Jokic ended up with as many turnovers (five) as made field goals, attempting only nine shots in total.
Daigneault suggests watching Caruso during breaks in play to truly grasp his value, beyond his defensive intensity. He is perpetually engaged, eyes scanning from the scoreboard to the coaching staff, teammates, and sometimes even the referees. He communicates effectively without dominating, using what Daigneault calls “filler lines” to keep priorities clear and encourage his teammates to participate in discussions.
Daigneault explained, “He constantly fills the communication space with useful input, which paradoxically leaves room for others to contribute. Sometimes veteran players feel compelled to `take over` the conversation, which can stifle others. Caruso possesses an incredible intuition for this. Whether intentional or not, he`s skilled at making his points and communicating consistently without being overwhelming or suffocating.”
“He`s never disengaged,” Daigneault concluded. “He is always competitively focused.”
Cason Wallace, the Thunder`s 21-year-old second-year guard, humorously noted that Caruso is “the first bald teammate I`ve ever had.”
“That ranks high on my list of achievements,” Caruso joked in response.
Caruso, the oldest player on the Thunder roster with an average age of 24.5, is often reminded of this fact, making him a frequent target for his teammates` jokes.
Caruso, who signed a four-year, $81 million contract extension in December (the earliest the Thunder could offer it), commented, “It`s always about that, which is crazy because I still plan on playing many more years.”
Caruso views sarcasm as a sign of affection and takes the jokes in stride. Establishing trust within the Thunder locker room was also important to him; he didn`t want to be perceived merely as a veteran who thought he knew everything.
Out of respect for his new teammates` accomplishments and backgrounds, Caruso initially tried to gradually become a more vocal presence. He felt he needed to earn “sweat equity” first. However, neither his teammates nor the coaches observed any hesitation from him.
Daigneault noted, “Even when he`s being cautious, he`s still quite vocal.”
But Caruso didn`t need to force himself upon his Thunder teammates; they were eager to absorb the knowledge from the only player on the roster with an NBA championship ring.
He has shown particular interest in the defensive development of Wallace, an exceptional athlete whose on-ball defense reminds Caruso of his former Lakers teammate, Avery Bradley.
Caruso has been trying to teach Wallace the finer points of becoming a dominant defender – emphasizing the importance of knowing every technical maneuver and tendency of opposing players.
Caruso chuckled as he explained Wallace`s straightforward approach: “Not in an arrogant way, but his attitude is simply, `I`m just going to defend him.` For him, it`s very black and white: `It doesn`t matter if he prefers going left or right; I`m going to guard him, and if he exposes the ball, I`ll take it.` And I tell him, `Okay, that`s effective, but let`s also add some of the mental aspects to your game.`”
Daigneault jokes that Caruso`s lessons might fully register around the time “Cason grows some chest hair.” Regardless of when he fully incorporates them, Wallace appreciates the advice now.
Wallace told ESPN, “He says whatever he sees. He`s always straightforward. And you can also share things with him. We`re all good at listening to one another. That dynamic began immediately.”
Shortly after joining the team, Caruso naturally took charge of the informal player meetings held periodically at the practice facility.
Williams told ESPN, “He didn`t have any real barrier to overcome. We were ready to listen to him right away. We understood why Sam acquired him.”
“He`s someone we trust,” Williams added. “We tease him by calling him `old head,` but we genuinely value his journey from the G League to where he is now. The team is very open to him and his advice. He consistently says the right things, which makes us even more eager to listen. And of course, he performs effectively on the court.”
Caruso`s dedication is also apparent in his willingness to come off the bench patiently, without complaint, despite averaging only 19.2 minutes per game – his lowest since the 2019-20 season, his first on a standard NBA contract.
Caruso recognized the value of giving playing time to developing players like Wallace and rookie guard Ajay Mitchell, particularly during the Thunder`s dominant run to a franchise-record 68 wins when they often held significant leads. In these situations, Caruso effectively served as an extension of the coaching staff from the sideline.
Daigneault, who describes Caruso as a “warm-weather player” whose value is highest in the playoffs, stated, “You can never question his competitive drive or his commitment to the team – never.”
Now in the playoffs, with the Thunder making their first Finals appearance since 2012, Caruso`s impact is perhaps best highlighted by a single statistic. When Caruso is on the court, Oklahoma City has outscored opponents by 16 points per 100 possessions. This net rating is the second-highest in the league among players with at least 225 minutes played this postseason, trailing only Wallace.
Trailing 0-1 in the Finals following the Pacers` comeback victory, the Thunder will undoubtedly rely on their veteran defensive leader to help guide the young squad in playing a complete 48-minute game.
Daigneault remarked, “He never has a selfish or uncompetitive moment, which provides him with a very strong foundation.”
“He possessed that quality even when he was the youngest player on his team,” Daigneault concluded. “Now, he`s the oldest.”
