Nikola Vucevic on the defensive greatness of Alex Caruso: "It is a luxury to have that type of player"

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Nikola Vucevic on the defensive greatness of Alex Caruso: "It is a luxury to have that type of player" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
When discussing the best and most hard-nosed perimeter defenders in today's NBA, names like Jrue Holiday, Dyson Daniels and Herbert Jones often dominate the conversation. However, one player who constantly flies under the radar is Alex Caruso. For his former teammate Nikola Vucevic, it has become imperative that the 6'5" guard receives the recognition he deserves.
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Moreover, "Bald Mamba's" relentless energy, fearless defense against any opponent - regardless of position - and unwavering commitment to give his maximum effort on both ends of the floor, in Vucevic's view, have given the Oklahoma City Thunder the undeniable dominant edge throughout the 2024-25 campaign.
Vucevic wants Caruso's efforts to be recognized
When contemplating the Thunder's consistent success over the past two years - attaining the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference - and even reaching the NBA Finals this time around, instantly the credit is handed to Shai Gilgeous Alexander for averaging over 30 points per game or Jalen Williams to be a reliant second option or to Lu Dort for providing high-quality two-way effort in every game. But Vucevic pointed to Caruso's championship pedigree and leadership as intangibles that help shape the team's identity.
"He knows his role on a team. He wants that challenge and wants to compete against the best opposing players and play to the best of his abilities. You see him now with Oklahoma; he is guarding from one to five. He has that in himself and he is a smart defensive player. He understands what other players plan to do on the court and knows how to bother them. He is always in attack mode and is a pest on defense. He irritates you constantly which also brings a psychological element to the game because he annoys the opposing players," Vucevic said. "He is an x-factor that makes a difference. He will play good defense, make big shots. It is a luxury to have that type of player," Nikola concluded.
It's hard not to admit that Vucevic summed it up perfectly. One of the most underrated reasons why OKC was able to overcome the 2023 NBA champs - Denver Nuggets - in the second round was because of AC elevating his scoring average to 10.4 points per game as well as being fearless even when told to guard a bigger opponent in Nikola Jokic.
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Similarly, in the WCFs, against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 2020 NBA champion played a huge role in limiting the scoring averages of both Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, constantly being in their face and not allowing them room to even fire shot attempts.
Related: "God, if you let me get through this, I won't play no more" - Larry Bird describes the moment that made him retire for good
Caruso is Thunder's X factor
Following the Indiana Pacers' dramatic comeback win in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals - overcoming a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit - the pressure now shifts to OKC's young core. In such moments, the leadership and experience of Caruso will be vital in re-centering the team.
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Not only will he need to motivate his teammates, but he'll also be tasked with neutralizing threats like Tyrese Haliburton during key stretches in the games ahead.
While SGA and Williams might get the credit for OKC's success if they were to win it all this time around, it is Alex's grit, resilience, and defensive tenacity that has helped Thunder have a killer edge in the way they're playing.
Related: Alex Caruso said LeBron James and Rajon Rondo taught him how to see plays before they happen: "It's like chess… they're two moves ahead"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.