Draymond Green believes Alex Caruso is the third most crucial player for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Green shared this opinion on his podcast with Baron Davis after the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals, balancing the series at 1-1.
Caruso’s performance in Game 2 certainly backed up Green’s focus. The guard contributed 20 points in just 27 minutes, shooting efficiently from all areas, including 4-0f-8 rom beyond the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line. His all-around impact gave the Thunder a significant edge as Green elaborated, “He’s so important to everything they do. Defensively, he’s so important to everything they do. Offensively, he can be another guy that can handle the smart ball,”
Green, a four-time NBA champion, praised Caruso’s value to the team. “When I look at this OKC team, I think the third-most-important player is Alex Caruso, “ Green stated. He highlighted how opponents “never game plan for him”. Green continued, “So because you don’t game plan for him, he comes into these Finals and goes crazy. But the reality is, he’s a champion, so he knows what to expect.”
Draymond Green says Alex Caruso is the Thunder’s third-most important player
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 10, 2025
"When I look at this OKC team, I actually think the third-most-important player is Alex Caruso …. I think Caruso is so important to what they do and I feel like you never game plan for him. So because… pic.twitter.com/fS16aXJax2
Caruso, 31, is in his first season with the Thunder after being acquired from the Chicago Bulls. He is known for his defense, having made two All-Defensive teams. He contributes to winning in ways that statistics don’t always show, and now he is three wins away from his second NBA championship title with the Thunder.
Draymond Green Confuses With Kevin Durant Trade
NBA circles continue to buzz about the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in February. Green, a Golden State Warriors forward, shared his wild initial reaction on Jimmy Kimmel Live, admitting he thought his own team was trading for Kevin Durant.
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Green described how Warriors owner Joe Lacob had just hinted at a Durant reunion. Moments later, Stephen Curry asked about the trade, leading Green to mistakenly think the Durant deal was finalized. Curry then clarified that it was the blockbuster Doncic-Davis swap that took place. The Warriors later acquired Jimmy Butler, reaching the second round of the playoffs before trailing to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
