This summer, the OKC Thunder opted to cut ties with former lottery general selection Josh Giddey and trade him via a trade to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for veteran guard Alex Caruso.
While objectively the talent is inferior in comparison, adding Caruso to this title-hungry Thunder team is something that has been talked about ad nauseam since the late-June trade was executed, with some going so far as to label it the second best transfer made this offseason.
Throughout his nearly eight-year career, the former Texas A&M product has managed to climb the association’s ladder, both in terms of production and status.
After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft and achieving such highs as two All-Defensive selections and an NBA championship, Caruso has established himself as an elite two-way role player that any winning organization would benefit from.
And even though it is ultimately thanks to his efforts and dedication that he has managed to chart such an enviable trajectory during his professional career, during a recent interview with TexAgs Radio, he revealed that LeBron James has proven to have had a major influence on his overall drive to become the player he is today.
During his interview with host David Nuno, Caruso spoke about the well-documented love James has for his game, with NBA insider Marc Stein even reporting that the future Hall of Famer has campaigned intensively to keep him with the Lakers before he eventually receives his current lucrative contract from the Bulls in 2021, and acknowledged that his endorsement had a major effect on his confidence on the court.
“Coming from someone of that stature, someone that is that smart and that skilled. The face of the NBA, and arguably the greatest of all time, that means a lot. It gave me the confidence to believe that what I was doing was right. It helped me believe that what I was good at could contribute and be a deciding factor in NBA games. All I ever wanted was to be on the court at the end of the game and have a chance to win,” Caruso said.
Four years into his career with James and the Lakers, the 30-year-old now looks to bring his intense desire and proven ability to win on the big stage to a Thunder team hungry for its franchise’s first-ever championship banner.
Speaking about his and fellow forward Isaiah Hartenstein’s arrival in Loud City, Caruso noted that they are both “phenomenal basketball players who can fit in really well with the team,” which, along with its connection to the LeBron James effect, should only bolster the confidence fans and pundits have in this ballclub heading into 2024-25.
