After a tough 112-107 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves - just their third of the season - Thunder veteran Alex Caruso took a brief detour from the grind of the NBA to return to where it all started: College Station, Texas.
Caruso made the trip back to his alma mater, Texas A&M, to catch the Aggies' College Football Playoff showdown against the University of Miami at Kyle Field. For the 29-year-old guard, this wasn’t just a casual visit - it was a moment he wasn’t about to miss.
"It's awesome. I try to come back for a game every year at the beginning of the season,” Caruso said during an appearance on ESPN’s College Gameday.
“Special circumstances this year, with basketball season, I got a chance to come back. I couldn't miss the first college football playoff game at home.”
This wasn’t just a homecoming - it was personal. Caruso grew up just 15 minutes from campus, and even with the Thunder in the middle of a grueling stretch, he found time to support the school and community that helped launch his career.
After the brief stop in College Station, Caruso is headed back to Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will host the Memphis Grizzlies at Paycom Center on Sunday. And while the Thunder are still sitting at an impressive 25-3 record, their recent schedule hasn’t been forgiving.
The loss to Minnesota marked their second defeat in three games - a stretch that began with the Spurs snapping OKC’s 16-game win streak in the NBA Cup semifinals. It’s a rare bump in the road for one of the league’s most consistent teams so far this season.
"I couldn't miss the first College Football Playoff game at home."@ACFresh21 shares his thoughts with @jess_sims about Texas A&M ahead of its matchup against Miami 👏 pic.twitter.com/EFSiUXGodV
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) December 20, 2025
But if you’ve been listening to Caruso, this isn’t exactly a surprise. He saw the challenge coming.
Back in late November, ahead of their first matchup with the Timberwolves, Caruso pointed out the demanding December slate. And while the Thunder responded with dominant wins over the Jazz, Blazers, and Suns - despite being shorthanded - Caruso knew the real tests were still ahead.
“Just trying to continue the consistency that we've started this year,” he said. “Obviously, we've gotten off to a great start, but there [are] still areas of improvement for us.
And I think some of the teams we're playing coming up will really push us and see if we're really committed to those things that we talk about - which I think we are. But putting it into action and putting it into games is where it counts.
I'm looking forward to having some of those games coming up.”
That’s the kind of mindset you want from a veteran presence like Caruso - someone who’s not just focused on the wins, but on the process. He’s been around long enough to know that regular-season dominance is only part of the equation. The Thunder are chasing something bigger, and December is shaping up to be a proving ground.
So while the loss to Minnesota stings, it’s also a reality check - a reminder that even the league’s best teams need to stay sharp. With a deep, talented roster and a leader like Caruso helping to steady the ship, Oklahoma City remains firmly in the driver’s seat. But as Caruso said, the real challenge is putting it into action - every night, every possession.
The Thunder’s next test comes Sunday against Memphis. And with the calendar creeping toward the midway point of the season, the stakes are only getting higher.