The Oklahoma City Thunder is currently down 2-1 in the 2025 NBA Finals, but has been extremely successful this season.
Of course, Shy Gilgauss Alexander is the team’s leading superstar as he won the 2025 NBA MVP Award.
But the OKC Thunder also did the sensational work surrounding their cornerstone star with a talented supporting cast, including veteran guard Alex Caruso.
Even La Lakers legend Magic Johnson praised Caruso for his role in promoting lightning during the 2024-25 NBA season.
Caruso’s NBA journey is full of obstacles. In fact, the 2020 NBA champions weren’t drafted during the 2016 NBA draft.
It wasn’t until the 2017-18 season that the Lakers awarded Caruso a shot to play in the league. Since then, he hasn’t looked back on a double all-defensive guard.
But before the Lakers’ opportunity, the Dallas Mavericks may have signed then-head coach Rick Carlisle.
“There was Alex Caruso in one of Dallas’ free agent camps. I don’t even remember what year it was. He wasn’t in the league yet. He might have played internationally.
The current Indiana Pacers head coach added:
Today, NBA analysts like Kendrick Perkins call Alex Caruso the “secret weapon” of the Thunder. However, in 2016 he didn’t even get the opportunity to play in the summer league.
Currently, Caruso is undoubtedly one of the best defensive guards in the league. So you might think that Coach Carlisle regrets Mavs’ decision not to sign him.
On the contrary, the Pacers coach is pleased that Caruso has gone “under the radar.”
“Some of these guys who go under the radar have that level of grit and determination that can take them into the league and have a longevity and a high impact on them,” explained Coach Carlisle.
Certainly, working on his craft as an undrafted player helped Caruso become the player he is today.
After all, Thunderguard may just stuff his box scores from time to time, but he always puts everything he has on the court for his team.