Alex Caruso, a 31-year-old basketball player, has become one of the most respected role players in the NBA despite a significant injury he sustained in his early years. The injury, which caused his pinky finger on his right hand to bulge as if a small marble was implanted under the skin, occurred during a basketball game in the first or second grade. Despite the setback, Caruso's love for the sport only grew stronger, and he quickly became a regular in local pick-up games with older players. Caruso's relentless effort and refined skills have transformed him into one of the great role players of this decade. He is known for his ability to wreak havoc on the court, creating chaos for the opposing team by deflecting passes and draining triples. No NBA player has deflected more passes per possession this postseason, and he's drilled more than 40% of his triples. Caruso's journey to this point wasn't easy. He needed to refine his risk/reward balance, which he now excels at. His current head coach, Mark Daigneault, described him as "Brett Favre," meaning that whether he was trying to thread a needle on a pass or jump a passing lane for a steal, he was always going for it. Last summer, Caruso reunited with Daigneault on the Thunder after a trade from the Chicago Bulls. He had become the 2.0 version of himself, a player whose ability to process the game has become as essential to his impact as his physical skills. Thunder coaches and players have marveled all year at how well Caruso is able to absorb game plans and identify the strengths and weaknesses of opposing players. It's why so many credit him for the Thunder's leap from fourth in defensive rating last season to first this season, despite Caruso averaging just 19.2 minutes per game in the regular season. For his own team, Caruso is trying to be settling and create a rhythm and flow. He's also trying to have an understanding of what they're going to do and then putting guys in positions where they can just play and don't have to think. When asked about his propensity for creating chaos, Caruso balks at that description, saying it's for the other team and that he's trying to make them think and second-guess things. In conclusion, Alex Caruso is a testament to perseverance and dedication. Despite facing early setbacks, he has become one of the most respected role players in the NBA through his relentless effort, refined skills, and ability to process the game. His impact on the court is evident in his ability to deflect passes, drain triples, and lock down players of all skills and sizes.
