How Alex Caruso, Thunder won Game 7 — and how the NBA might copy it

NBA Finals

OKLAHOMA CITY — A few hours before Thunder guard Alex Caruso hoisted his second Larry O’Brien trophy, the 31-year-old positioned himself in the right corner of Paycom Center on Sunday, both of his feet firmly planted in the ground.

Technically, Caruso was only here to warm up and get shots up before Game 7. But the veteran was less concerned with the mechanics of his jump shot and more engrossed with the mechanics of his footwork.

Each sequence was the same; left foot back one step, right foot back two steps, catch, shoot. The motions Caruso made were deliberate, like he had been rigorously studying the latest TikTok dance. But more importantly, Caruso was present in the moment — away from the rising temperature in the arena and the anxiety building up to the biggest game of the Thunder’s lives.

Caruso was simply where his feet were.