The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have locked up Alex Caruso.
Caruso and the Thunder agreed to a four-year, $81 million contract extension Sunday night time. his agent advised ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Thunder additionally introduced the extension Sunday night time, however didn’t disclose phrases of the deal. Caruso, who’s in his first season with the Thunder, was set to change into a free agent subsequent summer time. The 30-year-old will now be beneath contract with the group by the 2028-29 marketing campaign.
Caruso, who debuted with the Thunder’s G League crew after going undrafted by Texas A&M in 2017, spent his first 4 seasons within the league with the Los Angeles Lakers – with whom he gained a title in 2020. Caruso then spent three seasons with the Chicago Bulls earlier than being traded to Oklahoma Metropolis in trade for Josh Giddey final summer time. He grew to become eligible for a contract extension for the primary time on Saturday, so the Thunder wasted no time in getting the deal finished.
The 2-time NBA All-Defensive Staff guard has additionally shined with the franchise up to now this season. He is averaging 5.7 factors and a pair of.9 assists per sport off the bench, however he ranks prime 5 within the league in deflections, discipline objective proportion allowed and straight choose factors allowed as a ball-handling defender, in keeping with ESPN. He’s additionally averaging a career-high 1.9 steals per sport this season.
Maybe extra importantly, he helped lead Oklahoma Metropolis to a Western Convention-best 22-5 begin this season heading into Monday’s sport in opposition to the Washington Wizards. Additionally they reached the NBA Cup championship sport, however fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in Las Vegas final week. Caruso had simply two factors, each coming from the free throw line, in that loss. They had been additionally held to their lowest rating of the season within the title sport.
The Thunder went 57-25 final season and reached the Western Convention semifinals, which was the crew’s deepest playoff run since falling within the convention finals in 2016. Even Whereas the Thunder’s success will largely rely upon how far stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren – with a hip harm – can carry them, Caruso ought to have the ability to present nice depth and really stable management in Oklahoma Metropolis within the years to return.
