The Oklahoma City Thunder are clearly one of the best teams in the NBA and could be crowned champions in a matter of days.
They are great for many reasons, including some unsung heroes who make their success possible.
According to Draymond Green, Alex Caruso is the third-best player for OKC.
Green explained that Caruso is the sort of star who other teams don’t make game plans for, and because of his experience winning a title already, he knows all about the tough fight for a championship.
“When I look at this OKC team, I actually think the third-most-important player is Alex Caruso …. I think Caruso is so important to what they do and I feel like you never game plan for him. So because you don’t game plan for him, he comes into these Finals and he goes crazy. But the reality is, he’s a champion, so he actually knows what to expect,” Green said, per NBACentral.
Draymond Green says Alex Caruso is the Thunder’s third-most important player
"When I look at this OKC team, I actually think the third-most-important player is Alex Caruso …. I think Caruso is so important to what they do and I feel like you never game plan for him. So because… pic.twitter.com/fS16aXJax2
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 10, 2025
This is Caruso’s first season with the Thunder, and it’s been a very memorable one.
He has averaged 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists during his first season in OKC, coming off the bench for all but three games.
The Thunder are full of young up-and-coming stars, but Caruso has been in the league for a while.
He got his start with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017 and later won a championship with them in 2020.
After that, he traveled to the Chicago Bulls, where he spent three seasons.
Caruso is a capable scorer, but he is best known for his fearless defense, something that is crucial for the Thunder.
He has the experience, the skills, and the personality that really impact this team, and if the Thunder win a championship this year, he will be a huge part of it.
He may not get the same sort of headlines as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Chet Holmgren, but Caruso is a pivotal component of the team.
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