Did Alex Caruso diss out LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers' 2020 championship? Here's what OKC Thunder star said after beating Indiana Pacers
Alex Caruso and LeBron James. Image via: Abbie Parr/ AP | Marcio Jose Sanchez/ AP
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso found himself back on the NBA's biggest stage but with a subtle twist, as his championship celebration came with a controversial punchline.
After the Thunder clinched a gritty Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers to win the 2025 NBA Finals, Caruso drew attention with a pointed remark that raised eyebrows among Los Angeles Lakers fans and perhaps even
LeBron James
himself. While the Thunder's title was historic in its own right, Caruso's postgame comments left many wondering if he had just downplayed his previous ring from the Lakers' 2020 bubble run.
Alex Caruso calls the 2025 NBA title a 'real one,' seemingly taking a jab at LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers' 2020 championship
Alex Caruso didn't hold back when asked about how his second championship compared to his first alongside LeBron James in the 2020 NBA Finals.
'Yeah, now I got a real one. Now nobody can say anything,' Caruso declared, per multiple postgame reports. He added, 'Yeah, I think just because of the way the team is constructed now versus the team I had in 2020, like it was much harder with this team just because of the experience, right? And everybody talked about you need experience to win a championship, and you need this, that, and the other.'
The Thunder, the second-youngest team to ever win a title, leaned heavily on Caruso's veteran presence throughout the playoffs.
His defensive contributions— 2.4 steals per game in the Finals and three crucial takeaways in Game 7— showed his impact, even if his 10.1 points per game didn't jump off the stat sheet.
Reflecting on the team's journey, Caruso said, 'I said multiple times through the postseason with this team that good basketball is good basketball, winning basketball is winning basketball. And the best team can win no matter what happens if you go out there and execute and do the stuff that you need to do to win the game.
And I think through the playoffs, this team grew up and learned on the fly, which most teams have to learn through losses and learn through defeat.
And I think this team learned through success.'
While some interpreted Caruso's "real one" comment as a dig at the 2020 Lakers championship— earned during the pandemic bubble at Disney World— the veteran seemed more focused on praising OKC's journey than undermining his past.
Caruso was also asked if Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who capped off a legendary season with a Finals MVP, could take the mantle as the face of the NBA.
'Comparing to LeBron is a crazy start just 'cause LeBron was anointed at 18 years old and surpassed everything that has ever been put in front of him,' Caruso said. 'As far as face of the league and best player on best team, SGA's got that capability.'
Also Read:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA Finals MVP after powering Oklahoma City Thunder to historic Game 7 win
Gilgeous-Alexander finished the Finals averaging 30.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds, becoming just the fourth player in NBA history to win the scoring title, regular-season MVP, and Finals MVP in a single season.
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
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