Alex Caruso is now one of the NBA’s most feared defenders, one who could harass opposing guards and hold his own against big men stronger than him. But it wasn’t always like this for Caruso; it took work. Caruso credits current Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, with helping to refine and develop his skills on that end of the floor
Did the work in the G League
Before debuting in the NBA in 2017, Caruso spent time in the G League and that is where he met Daigneault, who at the time was the head coach of the Thunder’s affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue. Caruso shared that a lot of his time there was spent working on defensive drills with Daigneault.
“We drilled every day—stick hand, closeouts, shell defense, the most basic boring defensive drills,” Caruso said.
“I took them seriously. That’s just the person I am. I’m going to put 100 percent into whatever it is that we’re doing.”
Obviously, Caruso’s hard work away from the spotlight has done wonders for his career as he has risen from an undrafted player to becoming an NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 to earning a spot on the All-Defense First Team last season. Although the Bulls aren’t enjoying much success these days, Caruso can’t be blamed as aside from his usual relentless defense, he has also become one of the team’s most reliable offensive options.
“It was just the repetitions of getting it right and being able to carry that over to NBA games. It was habit at that point. It wasn’t something that I had to think about. A lot of that, I give credit to Mark for setting up the practices like that, coaching it, and teaching us to be present,” Caruso added.
Daigneault remains the same
Caruso and Daigneault faced off for the second time this season on Wednesday night with the latter’s Thunder defeating the former’s Bulls, 118-102. Caruso noted that how Daigneault is now is the same as when he coached him during their time together with the Blue.
“He coaches and talks exactly the same as he did with the Blue,” Caruso said.
“He was always keeping us in really good perspective of how to play and how we were going to be successful. I really enjoyed playing for him.”
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