NBA FINALS: THUNDER VS. PACERS

June 10, 2025

Alex Caruso

Oklahoma City Thunder

Practice Day

Q. What do you need to do to repeat the same performance of last game?

ALEX CARUSO: Yeah, just focus on the details of what got us to those moments of the victory. Just being present in the game. Obviously it's going to be a different challenge coming on the road. This place will be rowdy. They'll be excited to cheer on their team.

For us, I think just sticking with the details of the stuff that we've talked about as a team that are important to win the game.

Q. You are the only veteran on this team. What type of advice do you give to the rest of the players?

ALEX CARUSO: Just continue to tell everybody that, one, it's not easy. It's the Finals. It's not going to be easy. You're going to have to earn everything.

Two, be confident in what you do. We've been a great team all year because we've been confident, played aggressive. Just backing my guys and telling them, Don't second-guess yourself, just go out there and play your game.

Q. How did you develop your leadership?

ALEX CARUSO: Yeah, I mean, leadership, whether you're in the NBA Finals or in game 15 of the season, you're always trying to build toward the same thing. You're trying to build toward winning games, being a championship-caliber team. That's something that I've always kind of had the mindset of. Whether I've been the 15th guy on the roster or seventh guy on the roster or I'm closing games in the Finals, that's just always my mindset.

It comes naturally to flow into that in any scenario and any circumstance.

Q. What did you learn playing alongside LeBron James that you implement every day?

ALEX CARUSO: Just the ability to be a pro. To go get your treatment, to eat right, to sleep, get in your recovery tights. The competitive greatness that he has that I've picked up from him and other guys has been a good addition to my mentality.

But really just being a pro. Being a pro's pro. I think we played over a hundred games as a team now this year, not including practices, not including travel days. All that stuff adds up. Just being a pro, making sure I'm taking care of my body, my mind and bringing others with me.

Q. What challenges does Siakam pose in a one-on-one?

ALEX CARUSO: Yeah, just the diversity that he brings offensively. He's been shooting the ball extremely well in the Playoffs. Catch and shoot from three, off the dribble in the midrange. Obviously he's 6'8", 6'9", rangy. If he gets close to the rim, he has great touch. He's a physical player. He draws a lot of fouls.

Just the diversity of attack that he has. Then he does a great job, he's one of the few guys on their team that really looks for isolation to score. A lot of other guys, it's through the flow of their offense and pace. He's a guy that they run sets for to get isos.

The minutes that I have, just kind of match up with him. Just trying to make it tough on him. Obviously, he's a good player. All-Star caliber player. Won a championship before. He's not new to this. Just trying to make it difficult for him.