When Alex Caruso first arrived in Oklahoma City, he still had a full head of hair and only a faint hope of making it to the NBA.
It was September 2016. The Thunder had invited Caruso for a tryout, offering an Exhibit 10 contract which included a $50,000 bonus and a place on the roster of their G League team, the Oklahoma City Blue.
He was one of six players at the tryout, but unknown to Caruso, he was the sole focus of the Oklahoma City management and coaching staff.
Mark Daigneault, then coach of the Blue and previously on the Florida coaching staff before being hired by Thunder GM Sam Presti, already admired Caruso`s relentless competitiveness from his college days at Texas A&M. Daigneault recalled a game where Caruso played with such intensity during the second half of a crushing loss to Florida that it made him question if Caruso even knew the score.
Daigneault remembered the other players at the tryout were, in his words, “respectfully, not professional-level basketball players.” Yet, Caruso still left a profound and lasting impression.
“He quickly realized they had no idea what was happening,” said Daigneault, now the Thunder`s head coach in his fifth season, reflecting recently. “Halfway through the session, he was essentially coaching the workout. He was simply being himself.”
That afternoon, Caruso secured one of the final roster spots on the Blue, receiving a $13,000 salary in addition to his signing bonus. For that season, he became a passionate leader for the team, serving as the starting point guard for a squad that finished 34-16 and reached the second round of the G League playoffs.
Caruso attributes that season to establishing his foundational skills, which proved crucial in building his NBA career as a defensive anchor and eventually winning a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. This season, he returned to Oklahoma City, now seen as the “old head” on one of the NBA`s youngest and most talented rosters. Eight years after guiding less-skilled tryout participants, Caruso quickly became a respected veteran voice, helping steer the Thunder towards their championship aspirations. Following a last-second comeback by the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the pressure is immense heading into Game 2 as Caruso and the Thunder aim to tie the series at home.
However, Caruso admits his G League season was frustrating. He focused on his play while watching teammates get called up to the NBA ahead of him. He was also overlooked for a two-way contract, despite the support of Daigneault and Brandon Barnett, then the Blue`s GM and now the Thunder`s director of pro personnel.
“He admitted to me,” Caruso said with his characteristic dry wit, referring to Presti, “that he got that one wrong.”
Caruso departed Oklahoma City for Los Angeles when his contract ended after the 2017 season. Over the next few years, he parlayed a summer league opportunity into a two-way contract and became a crucial defensive reserve for the Lakers` 2019-20 championship run. When the Lakers didn`t match the Bulls` four-year, $37 million offer – another moment where his value was underestimated – he joined Chicago in the summer of 2021, earning two All-Defensive team selections.
Presti eventually corrected his oversight by acquiring Caruso via trade last summer.
Caruso`s career had come full circle, returning to Oklahoma City as a potential final piece for the Thunder`s championship ambitions. He embodies the ideal defensive veteran role player and offensive facilitator with a history of complementing superstar talent.
His influence extends well beyond statistical measures.
“It`s been wonderful having him back,” Daigneault commented. “I genuinely enjoy coaching him, just as I did back then. What`s truly exciting now is the focus is on the future, not just the past. Despite our shared history, we have a significant path ahead together.”
Caruso`s arrival, along with center Isaiah Hartenstein via free agency, helped transform the Thunder from contenders into title favorites this season. With Oklahoma City`s youthful core, featuring MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams, and former No. 2 draft pick Chet Holmgren, Caruso was seen as a perfect complement – a highly disruptive defender and offensive facilitator known for elevating superstar teammates.
“Right away, I felt it would be a perfect match, considering what I bring to the game and what the team appeared to need,” Caruso stated. “Also, I have a certain confidence and belief that wherever I play, we`re going to win.”
Beyond his on-court skills, Caruso, who turned 31 in February, offers crucial intangible qualities to a team that ranks as the second youngest to reach the NBA Finals in the shot clock era.
“He is an immense competitor, and we aim to have as many individuals like him within our organization as possible,” Presti remarked during his post-trade news conference. “Specifically, I believe having players with that level of basketball intelligence significantly elevates the entire squad. We genuinely sought that combination of heart and basketball IQ for our roster.”
Caruso`s role on the court fluidly changes from game to game, sometimes even quarter to quarter. During the playoffs, this has involved him being the primary defender against a wide range of opposing stars, from the quick Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant to the imposing 6-foot-11, 284-pound Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.
“It`s incredibly engaging because he`s a brilliant strategist, like a mad scientist, who enjoys adjusting tactics, exploring options, and identifying tiny, specific details and approaches we can capitalize on,” Caruso said, describing Daigneault`s coaching.
His statistical contributions, especially offensively, are rarely flashy. His career averages are 6.9 points and 2.8 assists, and he`s only averaged double-digit scoring once (10.1 points with the Bulls in 2023-24). However, his intense energy and defensive disruption make him consistently noticeable and impactful on the court.
His performance guarding Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP, in Game 7 stands out as the prime example of his impact this playoff run. This was a strategy the Thunder employed periodically throughout the series, aggressively fronting Jokic while teammates swarmed behind for help. Yet, Daigneault recognized that it was “not physically sustainable” for Caruso to constantly battle a player with a nearly 100-pound weight advantage over a full seven-game series. But for one game?
“Let`s try this early and see what happens,” Daigneault recalled thinking. “And then it just caught fire.”
According to GeniusIQ tracking, Caruso defended Jokic for 40 half-court possessions that afternoon – the highest number for any guard in Jokic`s 839 career regular-season and playoff games. Caruso was highly effective, allowing just 0.78 points per possession. Jokic ended up with as many turnovers (five) as made field goals, taking only nine shots overall.
While Caruso creates defensive chaos, Daigneault suggests observing him during dead ball situations to truly grasp his value. He is perpetually active and purposeful, his gaze shifting between the scoreboard, coaches, teammates, and sometimes the officials. He communicates effectively without overpowering others, using what Daigneault calls “filler lines” to keep priorities in focus and encourage teammates to speak up.
“He`s constantly filling the gaps with that kind of input, which paradoxically creates space for others to contribute,” Daigneault noted. “Occasionally, you see veteran players who feel obligated to act the part by dominating discussions, which can stifle everyone else. He possesses an incredible intuition; I`m not even sure if it`s intentional, but he has a remarkable knack for conveying his points and maintaining consistent communication without making others feel hemmed in or overwhelmed.”
“There is never a lapse in focus. He is always entirely engaged competitively.”
Cason Wallace, the Thunder`s 21-year-old second-year guard, playfully highlighted that Caruso is “the first bald teammate I`ve ever had.”
“That ranks highly among my achievements,” Caruso joked in response.
Caruso is the senior player on the Thunder roster, which has an average age of 24.5. This fact is often brought up and serves as a regular source of humor among his teammates.
“It`s constantly that,” Caruso remarked, adding, “which is wild because I still have many years left in the NBA.” (Caruso signed a four-year, $81 million contract extension in December, the earliest the Thunder were permitted to offer it.)
Caruso views sarcasm as a sign of fondness, so he takes the teasing in good spirits. It was also important for him to build trust within the Thunder locker room, aiming to be more than just a veteran who thinks he knows everything.
Respecting his new teammates` backgrounds and past achievements, Caruso initially tried to gently establish himself as a noticeable voice within the team. He felt he needed to earn “sweat equity” before being overtly vocal. However, neither his teammates nor the coaching staff perceived any hesitation.
“His idea of being cautious is still quite outspoken,” Daigneault observed.
But Caruso didn`t need to impose himself on his Thunder teammates. They were eager to absorb the insights of the only player on the roster with an NBA championship ring.
He has taken a special interest in the defensive development of Wallace, an exceptional athlete whose on-ball guarding skills remind Caruso of his former Lakers teammate, Avery Bradley.
Caruso has attempted to teach Wallace the intricacies of becoming a dominant defender – understanding every technical nuance and the tendencies of opponents.
“It`s not arrogance, but he just has this attitude like, `I`m simply going to defend this guy,` ” Caruso said, chuckling. “For him, it`s that straightforward – `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 steal it.` And I thought, `Okay, that works. Let`s also add a bit of strategic mental approach.` “
Daigneault jokes that Caruso`s coaching points might fully register around the time “Cason grows some hair on his chest.” Regardless of immediate implementation, Wallace currently values the guidance.
“He says whatever he observes,” Wallace told ESPN. “He`s forthright with his thoughts. You can also share your perspective with him. We all communicate well and listen to one another. That dynamic was established from the very beginning.”
Shortly after joining the Thunder, Caruso naturally began leading the informal player meetings held every few weeks at the team`s practice facility.
“There wasn`t really an obstacle he needed to overcome,” Williams told ESPN. “We were immediately receptive to him. We understood why Sam [Presti] acquired him.
“He`s someone we trust,” Williams continued. “We affectionately call him `old head,` but we genuinely value his journey from the G League to where he is now. Our team is highly receptive to him and his input. He consistently offers sound advice, which further encourages us to listen. Naturally, his actions on the court reinforce his credibility.”
Caruso`s dedication to the team is also clear in his patient approach coming off the bench. He never complains despite averaging only 19.2 minutes per game, his lowest since 2019-20, his first season on a standard NBA contract.
Caruso understood the benefit of allocating minutes to Wallace, rookie guard Ajay Mitchell, and other young players for their development, especially when the Thunder held significant leads during their record-setting 68-win season. In such situations, Caruso effectively served as an extension of the coaching staff from the bench.
“You absolutely never doubt his motivations as a competitor or a team player,” Daigneault stated. He humorously refers to Caruso as a “warm-weather player,” implying his value intensifies significantly during the playoffs.
Now, in the playoffs, with the Thunder reaching the Finals for the first time since 2012, Caruso`s influence is strikingly reflected in one statistic. Oklahoma City has outscored opponents by 16 points per 100 possessions when Caruso is on the court. This net rating is the second highest in the league, trailing only Wallace among players with at least 225 postseason minutes.
Trailing 0-1 in the Finals following the Pacers` comeback, the Thunder will undoubtedly rely on their veteran defensive leader to help guide their young squad to maintain focus and performance for the entire 48 minutes.
“He never has a moment that is selfish or lacking competitiveness,” Daigneault concluded, “and that establishes a very strong foundation for him.”
“He possessed that quality even when he was younger than everyone else on his team,” Daigneault added. “Now, he is the oldest player on the team.”
