The Oklahoma City Thunder have locked up Alex Caruso.
Caruso and the Thunder agreed to a four-year, $81 million contract extension on Sunday night. his agent told ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Thunder also announced the extension Sunday night, but did not disclose the terms of the deal. Caruso, who is in his first season with the Thunder, was set to become a free agent next summer. The 30-year-old will now be under contract with the organization through the 2028-2029 season.
Caruso, who actually got his start with the Thunder’s G League team after being drafted out of Texas A&M in 2017, spent his first four seasons in the league with the Los Angeles Lakers – with whom he won a title in 2020. Caruso then spent three seasons in the league. seasons with the Chicago Bulls before being traded to Oklahoma City in exchange for Josh Giddey last summer. He became eligible for a contract extension for the first time on Saturday, so the Thunder wasted no time in getting the deal done.
The two-time NBA All-Defensive Team guard also shined with the franchise this season. He averages 5.7 points and 2.9 assists per game off the bench, but according to ESPN, he ranks in the top five in the league in deflections, field goal percentage allowed and points allowed per straight pick as a ballhandler defender. He is also averaging a career-high 1.9 steals per game this season.
Perhaps more importantly, he has helped Oklahoma City get off to a Western Conference-best start this season at 22-5 heading into Monday’s game against the Washington Wizards. They also reached the NBA Cup championship game, but fell to the Milwaukee Bucks last week in Las Vegas. Caruso had just two points in that loss, both of which came from the free-throw line. They were also held to a season low in scoring in the title game.
The Thunder went 57-25 last season and reached the Western Conference semifinals, marking the team’s deepest playoff run since falling in the 2016 conference finals. While the Thunder’s success will be largely based on how much stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren – who is out with a hip injury – can carry, Caruso should be able to bring great depth and very solid leadership in the coming years bid for Oklahoma City.
