Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso discussed OKC's 2024-25 title defense and the Dallas Mavericks' season amidst Kyrie Irving's injury and their No. 1 draft pick, Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg.
I caught up with Alex Caruso coming off the 18th hole at the 2025 American Century Championship on Saturday, and I was able to ask him about a few topics regarding the 2025-26 NBA season.
The College Station, Texas, native was hesitant to give any judgment on the Dallas Mavericks, who just landed potentially generational talent Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, until Kyrie Irving came back.
“We got to see how they're gonna be. Kyrie’s still hurt. He might be out the whole year. He might come back late. A lot of that depends on him,” Caruso told me.
Caruso also opened up on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s upcoming season-long title defense following their seven-game triumph over the Indiana Pacers in the Finals this past June.
The 2025 NBA champion emphasized the target OKC has on their backs throughout the next year.
“It's the challenge of winning, having the target on your back. Obviously, great to have the same team back. That's what makes it a little easier to start off the season, knowing everybody and kind of how you want to play. So by no means will it be easy, right? You'll have the target on your back. Everyone's coming for you, but it's part of the challenge,” Caruso said.
Caruso finished the ACC’s second day No. 17 on the scoreboard. 2023 ACC winner Steph Curry finished tied for No. 9 with 2024 winner Mardy Fish.
Coverage of the American Century Championship concludes on Sunday, airing on NBC, Peacock, and the GOLF Channel.
Category: General Sports
