For the reason that Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder signed him in the course of the offseason, Alex Carsuo has settled in properly within the third group of his profession.
Though accidents and inconsistencies in his 3-point capturing have prevented a totally clean transition, Caruso’s elite defensive property have remained a really spectacular space of his video games. On a Thunder crew already full of a few of the finest defenders within the NBA, he ranks among the many finest.
Caruso’s 5.8 factors, three rebounds and a couple of.3 assists do not leap out at you – particularly his 39/28/71% capturing splits – however his influence goes properly past the standard stat sheet . Few gamers within the league have the identical enthusiasm and skill to do the soiled work.
At 30 years outdated, Caruso in some way ranks as Oklahoma Metropolis’s oldest participant alongside Kenrich Williams. The transition to a crew stuffed with younger expertise poised to compete for a spot within the NBA Finals could seem somewhat daunting, however the guard hasn’t had an issue “becoming in.”
If something, it’s a credit score to the Thunder group as a complete. Simply ask the person himself.
“Everyone seems to be handled the identical, and everyone seems to be held to the identical requirements and obligations” Caruso mentioned in the course of the media day of the NBA Cup semi-finals. “With an environment and tradition like that, it’s very simple for basketball gamers to thrive.”
Whether or not gamers previous or current who’ve come by Oklahoma Metropolis, most have earned the group nothing however reward. The purpose is to construct a novel tradition, unprecedented in comparison with different groups, which has allowed its outcomes to transcend the struggles of different small market groups.
Caruso actually does not have to be developed at this level in his profession, however when you think about what number of gamers the Thunder have drafted and develop into influence gamers over the previous few years, there’s something in his developmental course of that favored his formation. at the moment has.
It is protected to say that Oklahoma Metropolis is definitely booming.
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