\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAlex Caruso got asked after Game 4 of the NBA Finals if he\u2019s aware that he\u2019s achieved a level of superhero-type status among fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder during this playoff run.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5\u2019s YouTube channelAfter all, having zero 20-point games in the regular season followed by two \u2014 and counting \u2014 in the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers tends to have an effect on people.\u201cFor the superhero reference, we\u2019ll just do Robin because that\u2019s the only one I can probably make some similarities to,\u201d Caruso said. \u201cI\u2019ve got better players around me that are doing more.\u201dThat\u2019s part of the Caruso story, and he\u2019s just fine with that. He was part of the Los Angeles Lakers team \u2014 alongside a Batman in LeBron James \u2014 that won a title in the pandemic \u201cbubble\u201d in 2020. And he has helped this Thunder team \u2014 alongside another Batman in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and scoring champion who slapped on his cape and carried OKC down the stretch of Game 4 \u2014 move within two wins of what would be his second championship.He had 20 points against the Pacers in Game 2 and 20 points again in a probably season-saving win in Game 4; it\u2019s no coincidence that those are the games the Thunder have won in this series. And his Game 4 performance was historic; no player in finals history had ever had 20 points and five steals off the bench in a game during the title series.Before Friday, that is, when he did just that.\u201cHe\u2019s a competitive monster, clearly,\u201d Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. \u201cHe\u2019s proven that time and again over his career. Certainly in these playoffs \u2026 I can\u2019t say enough about him as a competitor.\u201dCaruso, 31, is the oldest player on the Thunder roster. And his teammates have no problem pointing out that he\u2019s the wise sage of the team, the vet with a ring, the one you go to for advice on virtually any topic.\u201cHe plays the game, he thinks the game and he\u2019s also coaching the game all at the same time,\u201d forward Cason Wallace said. \u201cHe\u2019s always a few steps ahead.\u201dCaruso\u2019s is the quintessential story of bucking the odds. A four-star recruit out of high school, not drafted by any NBA team, and some coaches still lament letting him get away.Among them: Rick Carlisle. Now the Indiana coach, Carlisle was with Dallas when the Mavericks brought Caruso \u2014 a Texas A&M guy \u2014 in for a workout. They didn\u2019t even offer him a summer league deal.Whoops.\u201cSome 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,\u201d Carlisle said.James, even now, still calls Caruso \u201cone of my favorite teammates of all time.\u201d The Thunder feel the same way about him, for obvious reasons.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Caruso doesn\u2019t need to be Batman. Being a Robin is just fine with him.\u201cIt just comes down to really wanting to win, being super competitive,\u201d Caruso said. \u201cThat\u2019s why my career is the way it is. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve had success. That\u2019s why I\u2019m still in the NBA. That\u2019s why I\u2019m here talking to you right now.\u201dMore Thunder HeadlinesThunder NBA Finals: Tickets, schedule and what to knowNBA Finals Tickets: See how much Thunder tickets costLIVE BLOG: Thunder and Pacers set for Game 4 of NBA FinalsSports bars and restaurants to watch OKC Thunder in NBA FinalsPacers fans test their Thunder knowledge in Indianapolis\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Alex Caruso got asked after Game 4 of the NBA Finals if he\u2019s aware that he\u2019s achieved a level of superhero-type status among fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder during this playoff run.<\/p>\n
>> Download the KOCO 5 app<\/a> | Subscribe to KOCO 5\u2019s YouTube channel<\/a><\/p>\n After all, having zero 20-point games in the regular season followed by two \u2014 and counting \u2014 in the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers tends to have an effect on people.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the superhero reference, we\u2019ll just do Robin because that\u2019s the only one I can probably make some similarities to,\u201d Caruso said. \u201cI\u2019ve got better players around me that are doing more.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s part of the Caruso story, and he\u2019s just fine with that. He was part of the Los Angeles Lakers team \u2014 alongside a Batman in LeBron James \u2014 that won a title in the pandemic \u201cbubble\u201d in 2020. And he has helped this Thunder team \u2014 alongside another Batman in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and scoring champion who slapped on his cape and carried OKC down the stretch of Game 4 \u2014 move within two wins of what would be his second championship.<\/p>\n He had 20 points against the Pacers in Game 2 and 20 points again in a probably season-saving win in Game 4; it\u2019s no coincidence that those are the games the Thunder have won in this series. And his Game 4 performance was historic; no player in finals history had ever had 20 points and five steals off the bench in a game during the title series.<\/p>\n Before Friday, that is, when he did just that.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a competitive monster, clearly,\u201d Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. \u201cHe\u2019s proven that time and again over his career. Certainly in these playoffs \u2026 I can\u2019t say enough about him as a competitor.\u201d<\/p>\n Caruso, 31, is the oldest player on the Thunder roster. And his teammates have no problem pointing out that he\u2019s the wise sage of the team, the vet with a ring, the one you go to for advice on virtually any topic.<\/p>\n \u201cHe plays the game, he thinks the game and he\u2019s also coaching the game all at the same time,\u201d forward Cason Wallace said. \u201cHe\u2019s always a few steps ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Caruso\u2019s is the quintessential story of bucking the odds. A four-star recruit out of high school, not drafted by any NBA team, and some coaches still lament letting him get away.<\/p>\n Among them: Rick Carlisle. Now the Indiana coach, Carlisle was with Dallas when the Mavericks brought Caruso \u2014 a Texas A&M guy \u2014 in for a workout. They didn\u2019t even offer him a summer league deal.<\/p>\n Whoops.<\/p>\n \u201cSome 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,\u201d Carlisle said.<\/p>\n James, even now, still calls Caruso \u201cone of my favorite teammates of all time.\u201d The Thunder feel the same way about him, for obvious reasons.<\/p>\n