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Despite all-time team choke, former Aggie basketball star achieves NBA playoff first

The NBA has seen a lot of crazy statistical performances, but until last night, no one had ever achieved what Alex Caruso just did in the playoffs.
ByGraham Harmon|
May 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) reacts after scoring a three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
May 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) reacts after scoring a three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

There's not much that Oklahoma City Thunder fans are happy about this morning, but at the top of that short list is former Aggie basketball star Alex Caruso. The Thunder choked away a lead in the second half of their opening game of the series against the Nuggets in the conference semifinals, but it wasn't due to a lack of contribution from "The Bald Mamba."

Caruso was all over the place, not only making baskets on one end, but playing excellent defense on the other. His hustle and heart brought Aggie fans back to his days in maroon and white, where he was one of the hardest-working players on an A&M team that made it to the Sweet Sixteen.

As a matter of fact, Caruso's all-around effort and achievement on both sides of the ball actually puts his performance from last night in a league of its own. He was brought into OKC to provide a high level of play on both ends of the court, and this stat line that he achieved shows that.

Alex Caruso puts up never-before-seen NBA playoff stat line despite OKC loss

Caruso's two-way showcase earned him some major recognition midway through the game, as Statmuse sent out this tweet about what he was doing against the Nuggets.

Though OKC was tough defensively last year, Caruso brings an element that they were lacking. While Lu Dort is a physical wing defender who can guard 1-4, Caruso's wily game and athleticism shows that he can match, if not exceed, Dort's defensive quality.

Not everyone is built to show up in the playoffs, though. OKC's purported MVP candidate, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, was outshone massively by Nikola Jokic, who is already an all-time great in his own right. If SGA is the player that he is made out to be, he would be better able to capitalize on the support he got from guys like Caruso in these games.

It's tough to handle Jokic for any team, but Holmgren and Hartenstein looked especially inept in that regard last night. This could be trouble for OKC going forward, but not if Caruso has anything to say about it.

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