The Oklahoma City Thunder have been incredibly successful this season, albeit currently being down 2-1 in the 2025 NBA Finals.
Of course, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the primary superstar on the team as he also took home the 2025 NBA MVP award.
However, the OKC Thunder have also done a sensational job of surrounding their cornerstone star with a talented supporting cast, including veteran guard Alex Caruso.
Even LA Lakers legend Magic Johnson has praised Caruso for his role in elevating the Thunder during the 2024-25 NBA season.
Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty ImagesBefore OKC Thunder and LA Lakers, Dallas Mavericks had a shot at signing Alex Caruso, says Rick Carlisle
Caruso’s NBA journey has been full of obstacles. In fact, the 2020 NBA champion went undrafted during the 2016 NBA Draft.
It wasn’t until the 2017-18 season that the Lakers awarded Caruso a shot to play in the league. Since then, the 2x All-Defensive guard hasn’t looked back.
However, before the Lakers’ opportunity, the Dallas Mavericks could have signed him, per then-head coach Rick Carlisle.
“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.
The current Indiana Pacers head coach added: “He had a good two or three days. We didn’t even bring him to summer league or ask him to summer league.”
Today, NBA analysts like Kendrick Perkins have called Alex Caruso the Thunder’s ‘secret weapon.’ But back in 2016, he didn’t even earn an opportunity to play in the Summer League.
Rick Carlisle is happy Alex Caruso went ‘under the radar’
Right now, Caruso is arguably one of the best defensive guards in the league. So, one may wonder if coach Carlisle regrets the Mavs’ decision not to sign him.
Well, on the contrary, the Pacers coach is happy that Caruso went ‘under the radar.’
“Some of these guys that go under the radar have that level of grit and determination that is able to get them to the league and to get them some longevity and high impact,” coach Carlisle explained.
Indeed, working on his craft as an undrafted player helped Caruso become the player he is today.
After all, the Thunder guard may only occasionally stuff the box score, but he always lays everything he has on the court for his team.