Alex Caruso Clears the Air on Lakers Diss After Thunder Championship

Alex Caruso meant no disrespect to the Los Angeles Lakers or their fanbase after helping the Oklahoma City Thunder capture an NBA title on Sunday.

But a lighthearted comment during the postgame celebration quickly drew attention, prompting the veteran guard to issue a clarification.

Caruso was pivotal in Oklahoma City’s postseason run, bringing veteran leadership and defensive grit to a young and dynamic roster. After the Thunder sealed the title, Caruso reflected on his journey, contrasting this championship with his previous one — the Lakers’ 2020 title inside the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida.

“Yeah, now I got a real one, now nobody can say anything,” Caruso said with a smile in his postgame press conference. “I just think because of the way the team is constructed now versus the team I had in 2020. It was much harder with this team just because of the experience. Everybody talked about, ‘You need experience to win a championship.'”

Caruso’s remarks sparked buzz online. Some interpreted the statement as a slight against his former Lakers teammates and the legitimacy of their 2020 title. It’s a championship that came under unprecedented circumstances amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lakers went 16-5 in that postseason to secure the franchise’s 17th NBA title, but the environment and conditions of the bubble led to endless debate among fans and pundits about how that championship should be viewed in league history. It wasn’t long before Caruso took to social media to clarify that his postgame comments were meant in jest.

“I had 3 beers already, it’s SARCASM!!” Caruso posted.

Alex Caruso Came Up Big in Game 7 for Thunder

Caruso spent four seasons with the Lakers and was a key contributor during their 2020 title run. He provided energy off the bench and earning the admiration of teammates and fans alike. His journey from undrafted rookie to NBA champion and now two-time title winner with the Thunder has cemented his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable role players.

Caruso played 32 minutes in the championship-sealing Game 7, providing 10 points, three rebounds, three steals, and a block.

“I said multiple times through the postseason with this team, good basketball is good basketball, winning basketball is winning basketball. The best team can win, no matter what happens if you go out there and execute and do the stuff you need to do to win the game,” Caruso said. “I think through the playoffs, this team grew up and learned on the fly. Most teams have to learn through losses and learn through defeat. I think this team learned through success.”

Thunder Complete Historic Season

The title put a cap on a historic season for the Thunder. Oklahoma City won 84 games between the regular season and playoffs, tying the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for the third-most in a single season.

Many believe the Thunder may be at the start of a championship run, building around young stars like MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26) and Jalen Williams (24).

“They behave like champions, they compete like champions,” head coach Mark Daigneault said. “They root for each other’s success, which is rare in professional sports. I’ve said it many times and now I’m going to say it one more time. They are an uncommon team and now they’re champions.”