Unlikely Reunion: Caruso and Daigneault Join Forces for Another Shot at the NBA Title with the Thunder

Mark Daigneault and Alex Caruso, both of whom have been in the NBA for nearly a decade, were recently reunited as a coach-player duo with the Oklahoma City Thunder. This time around, Caruso was traded to the Thunder in exchange for Josh Giddey going to the Chicago Bulls.

Caruso’s career began with the OKC Blue after he went undrafted in 2016. He later played for the Los Angeles Lakers, where he established himself in the league. In 2021, he joined the Bulls and had personal success, making back-to-back All-Defensive Teams and shooting well from the 3-point line.

Daigneault also followed an unorthodox path, starting out as head coach of the Blue before moving on to become an assistant for the Thunder. He then became head coach in 2020 and was recognized for his coaching skills when he was named Coach of the Year last season, leading OKC to become the youngest first seed in league history.

After their distinct journeys to success, Caruso and Daigneault are excited to work together again as teammates with the Thunder. Caruso expressed his enthusiasm for playing under Daigneault’s leadership, fondly recalling their time together on OKC’s team years ago. As OKC aims to compete at a high level this season, Daigneault will have more opportunities to shape the team’s roster to fit their playing style, benefiting from his relationship with Caruso.

Although Caruso’s contract with OKC is only one year long, both parties seem confident that they will benefit from working together again. They have grown significantly since their earlier experiences together and are looking forward to building on those lessons as they continue their careers with Oklahoma City Thunder.