Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso has agreed to a four-year, $81 million contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2028-29 season.
This new agreement ensures Caruso avoids free agency, locking him in for the long term with Oklahoma City.
The 30-year-old guard, currently earning $9.9 million for the 2023-24 season, became eligible to sign an extension just one day before finalising the deal.
Caruso joined the Thunder during the off-season as a sought-after player for teams aiming to build championship-calibre rosters.
The Thunder, sitting atop the Western Conference standings, prioritised his role as a cornerstone for their defense-first approach.
Caruso’s path to Oklahoma City included four successful seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played a pivotal role in their 2020 NBA Championship run.
Thunder Signs Alex Caruso to Multi-Year Contract Extension 🖊️
📲 | https://t.co/oj8KWjAhO1 pic.twitter.com/iEQBCFQ7Qr
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 22, 2024
He later spent three seasons with the Chicago Bulls, hitting a career-best 10.1 points per game during the 2023-24 campaign.
This season, Caruso has been instrumental in fortifying the Thunder’s dominance in the West.
Teaming up with Lu Dort and rookie Cason Wallace, Caruso has created a formidable defence around stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams.
Oklahoma City’s defensive efforts have propelled them to the top of the league, currently boasting the NBA’s best defensive rating.
He ranks second among players contesting at least 150 shots in field goal percentage allowed as a defender.
Additionally, he is also second in points per direct pick allowed when guarding the ballhandler on at least 115 on-ball screens.
This season, Caruso is delivering a career-high 1.9 steals per game and ranks fifth in deflections per game.
Offensively, he has contributed with averages of 5.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
