The Thunder’s plan with Alex Caruso is pretty simple, and it has worked: keep him wrapped up during the regular season, then let him loose when the games matter most.
That approach has already paid off in Oklahoma City. Through his first two seasons with the team, Caruso has averaged just 19.3 minutes and 18.2 minutes, a clear sign the Thunder have been careful with his workload.
Given the way he plays, that makes sense. His style is relentless, and OKC has treated him like too valuable a weapon to wear down over 82 games.
There’s no reason to change course now. Expect the same kind of regular-season management again.
That’s because Caruso remains one of the best defenders of his era, a two-time All-Defense member whose value shows up in the biggest moments. His trophy case may not be overflowing, but the Thunder’s willingness to preserve him has helped him stay fresh for the postseason. He even has an NBA championship to prove the formula has worked.
The next step is getting a little more from him on offense during the regular season. That was the weak spot last year.
Caruso hit just 29.3% from 3 on 3.2 attempts, which left opponents comfortable giving him space. With Oklahoma City moving on from a handful of role players, the Thunder will need small gains from across the roster to help cover the difference.
For Caruso, that means simply being more reliable from deep.
There is evidence he can do it. In his first season in OKC, he shot 35.3% from 3 on 3.1 attempts.
In the playoffs, though, he was even better, knocking down 44.6% from 3 on 4.9 attempts. The shot is there.
The mechanics are there. The Thunder just need more of that touch during the grind of the regular season instead of only when the pressure spikes.
And that postseason pressure is where Caruso has already built his reputation in Oklahoma City. He averaged 9.2 points during the Thunder’s 2025 championship run, then followed that with 11 points per game last season as OKC fell short in the Western Conference Finals.
With Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell dealing with health issues, Caruso became a needed scorer. He put up 31 points in Game 1 of the series against the San Antonio Spurs, and by the end of the battle, opponents had to respect his jumper and close out harder.
That’s the version of Caruso the Thunder will need again. Oklahoma City heads into the 2026-27 season as a co-title favorite and should again be in the top two of the standings.
If the Thunder are going to chase another Larry O’Brien trophy, they need Caruso to be one of their six most important players in the playoffs. He’s already one of the winningest role players of this era.
Now the next chapter is about adding even more to that playoff legend.
In Other News...
Ajay Mitchells Next Leap Could Force A Tough Thunder Decision
The Thunder have already made one big move to get their books in better shape, trimming their luxury-tax bill by dealing away Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe. Even with that reset, the long view around the roster still points toward difficult choices, because the next wave of contract talks is coming fast and it is centered on young players who have already shown they belong in Oklahoma Citys future.
Ajay Mitchell is part of that squeeze after a strong sophomore season that came with a clear rise in scoring and a real playoff role. His development gives the Thunder another promising piece, but it also adds to the pressure on a cap sheet that will have to absorb extensions for Mitchell, Jared McCain and perhaps Cason Wallace, leaving the front office to balance talent retention against the cost of keeping this core together. [Read more 🡒]
Ajay Mitchell Just Changed His Place In The Thunders Future
Ajay Mitchell has gone from a promising depth piece to one of the more interesting parts of Oklahoma Citys long-term picture. In his 2025-26 season, he took a clear step forward on both ends, scoring more efficiently and giving the Thunder a steadier defensive presence while carving out a real role in the rotation. For a team that always seems to have more young talent than minutes, that kind of leap matters.
Mitchells rise also showed up when the games tightened in the playoffs, where he became part of the Thunders real postseason fabric rather than just a developmental story. For Oklahoma City, the bigger question now is no longer whether he belongs in the conversation, but how high he can climb in a future that already looks crowded with options. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Title Hopes Could Hinge On One Crucial Strength
The Thunder know the grind of an 82-game season can wear down even the deepest roster, so their approach this year is built around keeping the big picture in view. Oklahoma City expects to manage minutes carefully, leaning on its depth to carry more of the load while preserving the legs of key starters such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Young contributors and two-way contract players should be part of that equation, giving the coaching staff options to keep the team competitive without overtaxing its core. For a club with title ambitions, the challenge is finding the right balance between winning enough now and making sure the rotation is fresh when the postseason arrives. [Read more 🡒]