Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso has been a vital contributor during the Thunder's deep postseason.
The Thunder are currently trailing 2-1 in their best-of-seven NBA Finals series against the Indiana Pacers, who were dominant throughout the season, finishing with an impressive 68 -14 record. While league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has garnered the spotlight, it has been role players like Caruso who have been the glue that has held things together.
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The two-time All-NBA defensive guard has been impactful throughout his career, helping the Lakers capture a championship in 2020, and he has even garnered the attention of some of the best players and coaches throughout the league.
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who previously coached for the Mavericks, recently revealed that the Mavs had a chance to sign the 31-year-old guard during his early years.
"We had Alex Caruso in one of our free agent camps in Dallas. I don't even remember what year it was. He hadn’t even gotten into the league yet. He may have played internationally, something like that," Carlisle told the media.
He added, "He had a good two or three days. We didn't even bring him to summer league or ask him to summer league."
Caruso has established himself as one of the best defensive guards in the league. His grit and hustle have made him a valuable piece to the Thunder's final run.
His journey to the NBA began in 2016, when he went undrafted. He then spent time with the Lakers, where he emerged as a pivotal rotational player before landing with the Thunder.
Now Caruso and the Thunder are currently looking to even up the series before taking it back to Oklahoma City for Game 5.
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