Sunday saw dreams shatter for the Indiana Pacers, as the Oklahoma City Thunder went on to win the 2025 NBA Finals. In a decisive 103-91 Game 7 win, OKC won its first title since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008. It is the fourth team in the league’s history to clinch 84 wins in just one season, including the postseason.
Leading the charge were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and veteran Alex Caruso. For Caruso, this win was even more special. It is his career’s second ring so far, the first one being the one he won with the Lakers in the NBA bubble.
Alex Caruso’s Honesty on His Second Ring
For someone who went undrafted, this win was even more special. Caruso’s first win came during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The win was marred by criticism, and Caruso made it a point to throw some shade at his critics who questioned the legitimacy of his first championship.
After the game, he spoke to the media, saying, “Now I got a real one, now nobody can say anything.”
Although it was meant in good spirit, some took it as a funny jab. Caruso was quick to clarify his words later on X. “I had 3 beers already, it’s SARCASM,” Caruso posted.
“Yeah, now I got a real one — now no one can say anything.”
— Alex Caruso 😭
(via @DParkOK)pic.twitter.com/0i9ilWdGX3
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 23, 2025
Apart from proving his worth as one of the best defensive experts in the league, he managed to put up 10.1 points on average per game. He knocked down 40% against Indy.
He is also the oldest player on the team, using his Lakers championship experience to guide and help his current team. On average, everyone on the Thunder roster is roughly 26 years old or below, making them the second-youngest team to clinch the Larry O’Brien.
The 2020 bubble divided the league and fans since it took place behind closed doors at Walt Disney World, owing to the global pandemic. Meanwhile, Caruso also stated that winning this second ring was a bit harder, considering how young everyone is.
“Yeah, I think just because of the way the team is constructed now versus the team I had in 2020. Like, it was much harder with this team just because of the experience, right?” he said. “Everybody talked about ‘you need experience to win a championship, and you need this, that, and the other.’
But this young core grew a lot throughout the season. From October 2024 till now, the Thunder have had to fight a lot of fights, climb a lot of ladders, and come face-to-face with the best of the best in the league.”
