Alex Caruso, OKC Thunder Agree to Four-Year, $81M Extension

The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the NBA’s most punishing defenses, and a player whose offseason aquisiton reinforced that identity will likely stick around a while longer.

The Thunder and guard Alex Caruso have agreed to a four-year, $81M extension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania:

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso, a two-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, has signed a four-year, $81 million contract extension through the 2028-29 season, his agent Greg Lawrence of Wasserman told ESPN on Sunday. The Thunder announced the signing but did not specify terms of the deal. The deal keeps Caruso, who is under contract for $9.9 million this season, out of free agency. He became eligible for an extension Saturday.

Caruso was acquired by the Thunder from the Chicago Bulls last offseason via trade for third-year guard Josh Giddey, a ball-dominant and promising NBA talent who was not widely seen as fitting neatly either beside MVP-candidate guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or with the Thunder’s defensive-minded M.O.

Caruso is averaging 1.9 steals in just 20 minutes per game for a Thunder team currently sitting first in the Western Conference at 22-5 despite missing second-year big Chet Holmgren for the majority of the season.