ALEX CARUSO first arrived in Oklahoma City with a full head of hair and just a faint hope of building an NBA career.
It was September 2016, and the Thunder had invited Caruso to try out for an Exhibit 10 contract – an opportunity that included a $50,000 bonus and a spot on the roster for their G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.
He was one of six players at the tryout, but unknown to Caruso, he was the only one the Oklahoma City management and coaching staff were truly interested in observing.
Then-Blue coach Mark Daigneault, who had been part of the Florida coaching staff before being recruited by Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti, already held Alex Caruso in high regard for his intense competitive spirit, which he had shown during his college years at Texas A&M. Caruso played with such ferocity during the latter half of a lopsided loss to Florida that Daigneault wondered if he even knew the score.
As Daigneault recalled, the other individuals at the tryout were, “with all due respect, not professional-level basketball players.” Yet, Caruso still managed to make a lasting and significant impression.
“He quickly realized they had no idea what was going on,” Daigneault, now in his fifth season as the Thunder`s head coach, recently shared with ESPN. “By the midpoint of the session, he was effectively coaching the workout. He was doing what comes naturally to him.”
That afternoon, Caruso secured one of the final spots on the Blue`s roster, receiving a $13,000 salary in addition to his signing bonus. For that one season, he became a passionate leader for the Blue, starting at point guard for a team that finished 34-16 and reached the second round of the G League playoffs.
Caruso credits that season with helping him build his foundational skills, which proved crucial in establishing his role in the NBA as a defensive specialist who later earned a championship ring with the Los Angeles Lakers. He returned to Oklahoma City this season as the experienced presence, the “old head,” on one of the youngest, most talented teams in the league. Eight years after guiding players brought in for a workout, Caruso immediately became a veteran leader whose voice has been instrumental in steering the Thunder as they pursue their championship aspirations. Following a late comeback by the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the stakes are incredibly high for Game 2 (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC) as Caruso and the Thunder aim to level the series at home.
However, Caruso admits his season in the G League was frustrating. He kept his focus down as his Blue teammates were called up to the NBA while he was overlooked. He also missed out on a two-way contract despite the support of Daigneault and then-Blue GM Brandon Barnett, who is now the Thunder`s director of pro personnel.
“[Presti] admitted it to me,” Caruso said to ESPN with his characteristic dry humor, “that he got that one wrong.”
CARUSO DEPARTED OKLAHOMA City for Los Angeles when his contract expired at the end of the 2017 season. Within a few years, he parlayed a summer league opportunity into a two-way contract and played a vital role as a defensive-minded reserve on the Lakers` 2019-20 championship squad. After the Lakers chose not to match the Bulls` four-year, $37 million offer – another instance of underestimating Caruso`s value – he moved to Chicago in the summer of 2021 and earned two All-Defensive team selections over the following seasons.
Presti eventually corrected his oversight by trading for Caruso last summer.
Caruso`s career had come full circle back to Oklahoma City, where he returned as a potential final piece in the Thunder`s championship puzzle – the archetypal defensive veteran and offensive facilitator with a proven track record of enhancing superstar teammates.
His influence extends far beyond mere statistics.
“It`s been fantastic having him back,” Daigneault commented. “I enjoy coaching him. I enjoyed coaching him back then. But what`s exciting now is that it`s more about the future than the past. Despite the history we share, we have a lot of opportunity ahead of us together.”
The acquisitions of Caruso, along with center Isaiah Hartenstein via free agency, helped elevate the Thunder from contenders to championship favorites this season. With Oklahoma City`s young core, featuring MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star wing Jalen Williams, and former No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren, Caruso was seen as a perfect addition – one of the league`s most disruptive defenders and an offensive connector skilled at maximizing the performance of superstar teammates.
“Immediately, I felt it would be a great fit just from the perspective of what I bring and what the team seemed to need,” Caruso stated. “And I have a bit of an ego and pride in the idea that anywhere I go, I believe we`re going to win.”
Beyond the tangible skills, Caruso, who turned 31 in February, provided invaluable intangibles for a team that is the second-youngest to reach the NBA Finals in the shot clock era.
“He`s a tremendous competitor, and we want to have as many players like him in our organization as possible,” Presti said during his news conference after the trade. “Specifically, I think having those types of minds can help elevate the entire group, and we really prioritized having that heart and intellect within the team.”
CARUSO`S ROLE ON the court shifts depending on the game, sometimes even within a single quarter. In the playoffs, this has involved assignments guarding a wide range of opposing stars, from Memphis Grizzlies` speedy point guard Ja Morant to the Denver Nuggets` 6-foot-11, 284-pound big man Nikola Jokic.
“It`s a lot of fun because he`s a brilliant strategist who enjoys tweaking, maneuvering, and finding small details and strategic disciplines you can exploit,” Caruso said of Daigneault.
His statistical contributions, particularly offensively, rarely jump off the page. He holds career averages of 6.9 points and 2.8 assists and has only averaged double figures in scoring once (10.1 points for the Bulls in 2023-24). However, his relentless energy and defensive disruption demand attention on the court.
His defensive effort against Jokic, a three-time MVP, in Game 7 stands out as the most prominent example from this playoff run. It was a tactic the Thunder had used throughout the series, aggressively fronting Jokic with help defenders ready behind. But Daigneault recognized it was “physically unsustainable” for Caruso to manage a nearly 100-pound weight disadvantage against his primary defensive assignment over a 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 a guard in any of Jokic`s 839 regular-season and playoff games. Caruso allowed only 0.78 points per possession, with Jokic finishing the game with as many turnovers (five) as made field goals, taking only nine shots from the floor.
As much chaos as Caruso creates defensively, Daigneault advises people to watch him during stoppages in play to truly appreciate his impact. He is constantly engaged with a purpose, his eyes scanning from the scoreboard to the coaches and teammates, and occasionally the officials. He communicates effectively without dominating the conversation, interjecting what Daigneault calls “filler lines” to keep focus on key priorities while encouraging his teammates to vocalize.
“He`s constantly filling the space with that sort of communication, which in a way allows room for others to still contribute,” Daigneault explained. “Sometimes, you get a veteran player who feels they have to be `the veteran.` They take over and it can really stifle everyone else. He has an exceptional feel. I`m not even sure if he does it deliberately, but he`s great at getting his points across, being very consistent with his communication, but doing so in a way that isn`t overwhelming.”
“There`s never any mental lapse. He is always competitively present.”
CASON WALLACE, THE Thunder`s 21-year-old second-year guard, found amusement in pointing out that Caruso is “the first bald teammate I`ve ever had.”
“That`s high on my list of achievements,” Caruso joked.
Caruso is the oldest player on a Thunder roster whose average age is 24.5, and he is frequently reminded of this, becoming a consistent source of lighthearted teasing from his teammates.
“It`s always about that, which is crazy because I still have many years left in the NBA,” said Caruso, who signed a four-year, $81 million contract extension in December, the earliest the Thunder were permitted to offer it.
Caruso considers sarcasm a form of affection, so he willingly accepts the playful jabs. It was also a priority for Caruso to build trust within the Thunder`s locker room, aiming to be more than just a veteran who thinks he knows everything.
Out of respect for his new teammates` achievements and backgrounds, Caruso initially eased into becoming a prominent voice within the team. He felt he needed to earn “sweat equity” before becoming a loud presence. Not that his teammates or coaches perceived any hesitation.
“His idea of being cautious is still quite vocal,” Daigneault noted.
But Caruso never had to force his presence on his Thunder teammates. They were eager to absorb the wisdom of the only player on the roster with an NBA championship ring.
He has taken a particular interest in the defensive development of Wallace, an elite athlete whose on-ball guarding prowess reminds Caruso of Avery Bradley, his former Lakers teammate.
Caruso has attempted to teach Wallace the intricate details of becoming a dominant defender – understanding every technical nuance and the tendencies of each opposing player.
“Not in an arrogant way, but he`s just like, `I`m just going to go guard the guy,`” Caruso said with a chuckle. “For him, it`s that simple: `It doesn`t matter if he likes to go left or right. I`m going to guard him, and if he brings the ball within my reach, I`m going to take it.` And I was like, `Okay, yeah, that works. Let`s perhaps add in a little bit of the mental aspect of the game too.`”
Daigneault jokingly suggests that Caruso`s lessons will fully register around the time that “Cason gets some hair on his chest.” Regardless of whether he immediately implements them, Wallace welcomes the guidance now.
“Whatever he notices, he points it out,” Wallace told ESPN. “He`s going to share his thoughts. You can also share things with him. We`re all good at listening to each other. That was true from day one.”
Shortly after joining the Thunder, Caruso naturally took the lead in the informal meetings the players hold every few weeks at the team`s practice facility.
“There wasn`t really a barrier he needed to overcome,” Williams told ESPN. “We were ready to listen to him. We understand why Sam brought him in.”
“He`s someone we trust. We call him `old head` and so on, but we truly value his experience, from being in the G League to where he is now. Our team is very receptive to him and his input. He consistently says the right things, which makes us even more inclined to listen. Naturally, he also performs the right way on the court.”
Caruso`s dedication to the team is also apparent in his patient approach from the bench, never complaining despite averaging only 19.2 minutes per game, his lowest total since 2019-20, which was his first season on a standard NBA contract.
Caruso understood the benefits for development by giving minutes to Wallace and rookie guard Ajay Mitchell, among other young players, especially when the Thunder were comfortably ahead during their push to a franchise-record 68 wins. In those situations, Caruso contributed by acting as an extension of the coaching staff from the bench.
“You never question his motives as a competitor or as a team player – ever,” said Daigneault, who describes Caruso as a “warm-weather player,” meaning his value becomes most apparent during the playoffs.
Now, in the playoffs, with the Thunder in the Finals for the first time since 2012, Caruso`s impact is best summarized by one statistic. Oklahoma City has outscored opponents by 16 points per 100 possessions when Caruso is on the court, a net rating that ranks second in the league behind Wallace among players who have played at least 225 minutes this postseason.
Down 0-1 in the Finals after a Pacers comeback, the Thunder will undoubtedly rely on their veteran defensive leader to help guide this young team to play a complete 48-minute game.
“He never has a selfish or a non-competitive moment, and that gives him a very strong foundation,” Daigneault stated.
“He had that even when he was younger than everyone on his team. Now, he`s older than everyone on his team.”