The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder created one of the best rivalries in the NBA this season. After Oklahoma City’s 119-98 win over San Antonio on Jan. 13, Alex Caruso added more fuel to the fire between the two Western Conference heavyweights.
What Did Alex Caruso Say About How He Covers Victor Wembanyama?
Carsuo took the primary assignment on Wembanyama when he came off the bench. The Thunder guard explained his strategy to limit the Spurs’ superstar’s impact.
“Offensively, he’s still really raw… His length is an issue, but he’s not as strong as a Giannis, like a Jokic, Sengun, KD even… That’s something you have to use to your advantage,” said the Thunder lockdown defender.
Caruso played 20 minutes in the victory, collecting 13 points, four assists, and a steal. Wembanyama put up just 17 points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes. Isaiah Hartenstein missed the contest due to a calf strain, so Chet Holmgren started at center. However, when Caruso came in off the bench, he took the primary assignment on Wembanyama.
Caruso measures in at 6’5″, 186 pounds, while Wembanyama stands at 7’4″, 235 pounds. The Thunder guard gives up almost a full foot to Wembanyama, but that does not stop him from taking on the challenge. Caruso revealed his plan to keep him from using his length around the paint.
“He’s not going to be quicker than you. It’s angles, positioning, and then getting to the spot and holding strong because if he gets too close, he’s going to score. He’s just taller and has more length,” detailed Caruso.
The two-time NBA champion serves as Oklahoma City’s defensive Swiss Army knife. He can guard any position due to his toughness and active hands. He showed his unique defensive skill set throughout the Thunder’s 2025 NBA Championship run. Caruso covered Jaren Jackson Jr., Julius Randle, and Nikola Jokić throughout the playoffs.
Thunder-Spurs Rivlary Goes Back Beyond This Season
There is certainly no love lost between Wembanyama and Holmgren. Their rivalry extends even further, before both star big men began their NBA journeys.
Team USA faced France in the 2021 U19 World Cup Final. Team USA took home first place by just two points, and Holmgren won tournament MVP. Wembanyama and France finished second. The French center did not forget this moment.
The Spurs and Thunder still have one remaining regular-season matchup on Feb. 4 in San Antonio. Fans can expect both teams to play with an extra chip on their shoulder. A postseason matchup between these squads could be the most exciting seven-game series of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
