Alex Caruso talks LeBron James effect as he aims to play key role with Thunder

This summer, the OKC Thunder opted to cut ties with their former lottery-selected floor general in Josh Giddey and swap him out via trade with the Chicago Bulls in exchange for veteran guard, Alex Caruso.

Though objectively the inferior talent in comparison, the addition of Caruso to this title-hungry Thunder squad is something that has been talked up ad nauseam since the late June exchange was executed, with some going as far as to label it the second-best move made this offseason.

Throughout his soon-to-be eight-year career, the former Texas A&M product has managed to rise the ranks in the association from both a production and status standpoint.

From going undrafted back in the 2016 NBA Draft to reaching heights as high as two All-Defensive selections and an NBA Championship, Caruso has established himself as an elite two-way role player that any win-now organization would benefit from having.

And while it ultimately came down to him putting in the effort and having the devotion to pave out such an enviable trajectory during his professional tenure, during a recent interview with TexAgs Radio he revealed that LeBron James proved to have a major influence on his overall drive to become the player he is today.

Thunder guard Alex Caruso talks LeBron James' influence on his career

During his sit-down with host David Nuno, Caruso spoke of the well-documented love that James has for his game, with NBA Insider Marc Stein even reporting that the future Hall of Famer campaigned heavily to keep him with the Lakers before ultimately receiving his lucrative current contract from the Bulls back in 2021, and acknowledged that his endorsement had a major effect on his confidence on the hardwood.

“Coming from someone of that stature, someone who is that smart and skilled. The face of the NBA, and arguably the greatest of all time, that means a lot. It gave me the confidence in myself to believe that what I was doing was right. It helped me believe that what I was good at could contribute and be a deciding factor in NBA games. All I ever wanted was to be out there at the end of the game and have a chance to win," Caruso said.

Four years removed from his time with James and the Lakers, the 30-year-old is now looking to bring his intense desire and established ability to win on the big stage to a Thunder team starving for their franchise's first-ever championship banner.

When talking about his and fellow newcomer Isaiah Hartenstein's arrival in Loud City, Caruso noted that they both "are phenomenal basketball players who can fit really well within the team," which, on top of his link to the LeBron James effect, should only strengthen the confidence fans and pundits have in this ball club heading into 2024-25.