As the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare for their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012, veteran guard Alex Caruso offered insight into the team’s mindset, defensive identity, and what lies ahead against the Indiana Pacers.
Caruso spoke candidly about his early basketball influences, pointing to his father’s time playing for legendary coach Eddie Sutton at Creighton. “He vividly remembers practices with no basketballs,” Caruso said, describing the defensive principles instilled from a young age. “We’d talk about the game, how we played, how the other team played… I think that’s probably where a lot of my understanding of the game came from.”
Now anchoring the league’s best defense, Caruso will help lead Oklahoma City against a high-tempo Pacers squad that enters the Finals after eliminating the New York Knicks in six games. “They’re playing at a high level,” he said. “Their offensive pace is fast… even in the half court, they’re pushing the ball.”
One of the Thunder’s most consistent defenders, Caruso credited teammate Luguentz Dort as the tone-setter. “Lu is our main engine… his energy and physicality set the tempo and dictate how the rest of us play,” he said, adding that Dort’s growth as a shooter—hitting 40 percent from deep this year—has expanded his impact.
When asked about his knack for generating turnovers, Caruso emphasized both effort and intellect. “You’ve got to want to get a stop every possession,” he explained. “I’ve gotten to play around Hall of Fame players and been coached by Hall of Fame coaches… just stealing stuff from them.”
Oklahoma City swept through the first three rounds of the Western Conference playoffs, including a decisive 124-94 win over Minnesota in Game 5 to clinch the conference title. Caruso acknowledged his elevated level of play in the postseason. “I don’t think I really showed [my teammates] this level of intensity and effort during the season,” he said. “But we’re a really mature team for how young we are.”
Reflecting on his midseason trade from Chicago, Caruso recalled how the move interrupted a planned day at the golf course. Still, he welcomed the opportunity to rejoin an organization he was familiar with. “I knew the type of people… and I was excited to start a new chapter.”
The Thunder host Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday night against an Indiana team seeking its first NBA title. For Caruso, the goal is clear: “When we play at our best, we’re a really tough team to deal with.”
