Alex Caruso revealed his learnings from LeBron James during their time on the Lakers: “Eat right, to sleep and get your recovery tights” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Marking his second trip to the Finals, Alex Caruso has been of significant value to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The combo guard has stepped up during the recent playoffs, whether it was putting the clamps on Nikola Jokic or helping the Thunder win a crucial Game Two of the 2025 NBA Finals.
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Caruso’s leadership has been instrumental, especially lately, as the only player with championship experience on the OKC roster. The 31-year-old won his first championship in the 2020 Orlando Bubble, representing the Los Angeles Lakers alongside superstar LeBron James.
Going undrafted in 2016, Caruso’s basketball journey is a testament to perseverance. While he may not get the most minutes, Carushow made sure to leave an impact each time he stepped on the floor. His infectious energy and hustle mentality are what set him apart as well.
Now, seen as a vocal leader on the talented young Thunder squad, Caruso hopes to implement lessons from his past experiences, including those from LeBron. Playing four years for the Lakers, “The Bald Eagle” was a former teammate of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
“Just the ability to be a pro. To go get your treatment, to eat right, to sleep, get in your recovery tights. The competitive greatness that he has that I’ve picked up from him (LeBron) and other guys has been a good addition to my mentality,” revealed Caruso when asked about his experience of playing alongside King James.
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“But really just being a pro. Being a pro’s pro. I think we played over a hundred games as a team now this year, not including practices, not including travel days. All that stuff adds up. Just being a pro, making sure I’m taking care of my body, my mind and bringing others with me,” added the Texas A&M product, who traded from the Chicago Bulls over the last summer.
The greatness of King James
Not everyone is fortunate to share the locker room with a generational talent like LeBron. The four-time champion and Finals MVP continues to play at an MVP level at age 40. One of the biggest reasons behind this is his high fitness level and elite conditioning.
Bron has been blessed with great genetics, but the veteran superstar complements them with his efforts behind the scenes. While nobody knows the real truth behind his spending $1M on his body every year, the 6’9″ forward continues to be in his best shape.
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As LBJ’s former teammate, Caruso understood the importance of taking care of one’s body. That said, one can assume “The Bald Eagle” must have picked up on some of James’ other secrets as well, including his being in the Finals ten times.
Related: “Dad, you at 17, me at 17, who was better? I said, ‘Listen, son…'” – Dominique Wilkins on the moment he realized his son didn’t know how great of a player he was
Will OKC benefit from Caruso’s championship DNA?
The addition of Caruso has undoubtedly been of immense value to the Thunder, especially during the recent playoffs. The 6’5″ guard makes for one of the team’s secret weapons, given his versatility and basketball IQ. And, of course, the experience of having been on the Finals stage — something no one on OKC’s roster can claim.
After losing Game One of the Finals at home, Caruso recorded a season-high 20 points in Game Two, coming off the bench. The 2024 Hustle Award winner was 4-for-8 from the 3-point line in what was a pivotal win for the Thunder, with the series now shifting to Indiana.
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Related: “LeBron has no bag and I’m sitting here got 50 billion points”- LeBron James pushes back on “no bag” talk, breaks down his scoring style
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
