As talented and as the Oklahoma City Thunder may be, they’re NBA Finals neophytes. All but one have never been to a stage this big at this level of basketball and while it was obvious in Game 1, that one man was very much needed for the Thunder to avoid falling behind 2-0 to the Indiana Pacers. 

Alex Caruso is known more for his energy than his counting stats, but his efforts tend to spill over to the box score. He’s always trying to make the right play and in Game 2, it seemed that his offense was needed more than his defense. Caruso found ways to contribute by moving to the right spots and helping teammates through screens and timely passes. As a result, the ball kept moving and found him in areas where he could do damage. 

Much has been said about the Dorture Chamber that is Lu Dort, but once you tune into the Carushow, you’ll know that you’re in for a basketball masterclass. Caruso burst into the scene as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. The former Texas A&M Aggie was a ball of energy who threw thundering dunks and played his heart out on every possession, things that endeared him to fans and earned him spots on weekly highlights. 

Unfortunately, being an integral piece of Los Angeles’ 2020 championship run was not enough for him to stay for the long haul and after a relatively forgettable stop with the Chicago Bulls, Caruso found his way to OKC. When he joined the Thunder, Caruso was entering a franchise that had star power and needed the veteran presence to get them over the hump. OKC had previously brought in the likes of Al Horford and Chris Paul, but it never really worked out with them. But with Caruso, things started to click. 

Caruso was never one to demand the ball nor stop offensive possessions dead on its tracks; after all, the Thunder had enough mouths to feed. The 31-year old would do whatever was asked of him and had the ability to adjust on the fly whether it was a broken play or on the break. There were ups and downs to his numbers, but his efforts never went unnoticed as he was called upon in big moments. Of course, it helped that Caruso was also reunited with Mark Daigneault.

With a championship hanging in the balance, OKC needs Alex Caruso more than ever. The two-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection has had no qualms guarding players like Tyrese Haliburton and Nikola Jokic and he has picked up the slack when some of his Thunder teammates have had bouts of inconsistency on offense. 

Some will cite Caruso’s Game 2 performance as a testament to his championship experience, but in reality, it’s a reflection of who he is: a hard worker that will do whatever it takes to bring his team to the top. And if he continues to perform at this level, he may very well add another ring to his collection.