In a season where every possession counts and postseason hopes loom large, the Oklahoma City Thunder made a calculated decision with newly acquired guard Alex Caruso: play less now to gain more later.
During the regular season, Caruso averaged 19.3 minutes per game, a noticeable drop from his 28.7-minute average the previous season with the Chicago Bulls.
However, the reduction wasn’t due to a lack of trust or diminishing value.
“It was by design,” Caruso admitted. “The idea was to stay sharp, stay healthy, and be ready when the stakes are higher.”
The plan appears to be unfolding as intended. In the playoffs, Caruso’s minutes have jumped to 23 per game, reflecting the Thunder’s growing reliance on his defensive tenacity and veteran instincts.
The team’s conservative approach preserved his body for more physically demanding games, especially valuable for a player who admits he doesn’t ease into games.
“I just only have one gear. I don’t know how to play at 75 percent,” Caruso said. “So some of that was keeping me out of my own way, out of harm’s way. I don’t do a good job of that on my own.”
The Thunder may have bought themselves a better postseason by resisting the temptation to push their prized defender during the grind of the regular season.
Now, with more minutes and energy to burn, Caruso is proving why less can sometimes be more.
Thunder Notes: Caruso, Wiggins, Ownership, Depth, Defensive Strategy https://t.co/n7msr1gklP pic.twitter.com/hOt38WJXf7
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) June 11, 2025
