Alex Caruso is once again an NBA champion, but his return to Oklahoma City brought back memories that went beyond the title celebration.
Before helping the Thunder secure the 2025 championship, the 31-year-old guard made his professional start in the same city nearly a decade ago, playing for the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s G League affiliate.
Caruso, who went undrafted in 2016, landed with the Blue after being waived by the Thunder and briefly appearing with the 76ers’ Summer League team. That season in the G League, under head coach Mark Daigneault, became a formative chapter in his career.
“I don’t lose those memories,” Caruso told ClutchPoints, recalling the long travel nights, early practices in Edmond, and the grind of trying to earn a permanent NBA role.
Nine years later, he and Daigneault reunited in Oklahoma City to capture the franchise’s first NBA title. The Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, capping off a season where Caruso solidified his role as a defensive anchor and veteran leader.
Caruso’s championship résumé began in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers. But according to him, the experience with the Thunder was different.
“In 2020, I was trying to figure it out,” Caruso said. “This time, I knew the answers to the test and I tried to help the younger guys.”
Oklahoma City, the youngest team to win a title in over four decades, leaned heavily on Caruso’s playoff experience. None of his teammates had advanced past the second round before this season.
After earning All-Defensive First Team honors with the Bulls in 2023, Caruso was traded to the Thunder for Josh Giddey. The move added depth and toughness to a backcourt already featuring Lu Dort and Cason Wallace.
His role wasn’t just about defense. Caruso became a steady presence, both on and off the court, helping guide a team filled with former second-round picks, undrafted players, and developmental success stories.
“This team was built differently,” he said. “The Lakers had proven veterans. This group was still writing their stories.”
The symmetry of Caruso’s path — from G League underdog to two-time NBA champion, with the same coach who once guided him through overnight bus rides and practice drills — was not lost on him.
“I probably won’t fully appreciate it for some time,” he said. “But I know how rare this is.”
