The Golden State Warriors are battling it out against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Warriors managed just 20 points in the first quarter compared to the OKC’s 34. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been straight-up balling, and he’s making his MVP case louder by the day. After dropping a career-high 54 points recently, he came out swinging with 21 points in the first 12 minutes of this game. But it gets easier for the Warriors as Alex Caruso might not take the court again.

Oklahoma City couldn’t have asked for a better start, especially on national TV. They even put the brakes on Stephen Curry, holding him to just two points on 0-of-5 shooting—though, let’s be honest, we know that won’t last long. It’s been a tough season without Chet Holmgren since November, and they’ve also had to cope with Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso missing time here and there.

Just when it looked like they were finding their groove, Caruso had to limp off the court during that hot start. Caruso took a tough fall, stepping on another player’s foot, which ended up causing a left ankle sprain. According to Joel Lorenzi from The Oklahoman, the guard went straight to the locker room to get checked out. “He just walked to the locker room,” Lorenzi reported. Here’s hoping it’s just a precaution, but with the Thunder’s injury streak, everyone’s holding their breath.

And he won’t be returning to the game Lorenzi reports. That’s a tough break for a guy who’s been a defensive dynamo this season. While he’s putting up 5.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and half a block per game, his shooting numbers tell a different story. At 38% from the field, 29% from three, and 75% from the free-throw line, he’s definitely been having a rough time with his shot. Still, you can’t take away what he brings on the defensive end—it’s been a big part of the team’s success.

It started in 2016 when a 31-year-old Mark Daigneault, now the Thunder’s head coach, coached him.

Thunder’s mentality has been drilled in Alex Caruso since 2016

Alex Caruso’s journey with the Thunder has come full circle. Before making a name for himself in the NBA, he started with the Oklahoma City Blue in 2016, playing under a young Mark Daigneault. Back then, Daigneault had an unusual pre-practice routine—30 seconds of complete silence.

“We would call that our ‘be where our feet are’ time,” Caruso said. “If you wanted to pray, pray to yourself. If you wanted to just sit there and breathe, breathe.” It wasn’t just about basketball; it was about staying locked in on the present. That same “0-0 mentality” is still part of OKC’s DNA today.

Fast forward to this season, and the Thunder are dominating. Despite an average roster age of just 24, they hold the NBA’s best record at 37-8, cruising toward a 67-win pace. Shai just put up 35 points in a win over Portland on Monday, proving this young squad is no fluke.

Caruso, now one of the league’s top perimeter defenders, took the long road back. After four seasons with the Lakers and three with the Bulls, OKC traded for him in June and handed him a four-year, $81 million extension.

Looking at Daigneault now, Caruso sees growth. “Personality-wise, he’s the same guy. Basketball-wise, he’s gotten a lot better. He’s obviously worked on his craft. That’s why he’s had success… He doesn’t do much more than basketball.” Safe to say, the reunion is paying off.