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🏀 5x5 | Royce Webb
Alex Caruso Might Be the Greatest Inch-for-Inch Defender in NBA History
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Alex Caruso Might Be the Greatest Inch-for-Inch Defender in NBA History

Sounds crazy — but he’s closing in on his second ring, and the stats back it up

Jeremias Engelmann's avatar
Jeremias Engelmann
May 28, 2025
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🏀 5x5 | Royce Webb
🏀 5x5 | Royce Webb
Alex Caruso Might Be the Greatest Inch-for-Inch Defender in NBA History
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The Oklahoma City Thunder have one of the best defenses of all time.

They force tough shots and generate lots of turnovers, leading the NBA in both categories.

While some credit goes to the coaching staff — as I covered previously — one player in particular has pushed the Thunder into elite territory defensively: Alex Caruso.

Exactly how big is Caruso’s impact? Does it match the impact of the Basketball Hall of Famers who were recognized for their defense?

Let's see what the stats say, but first, let's recount Caruso's incredible story.

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A guest post by
Jeremias Engelmann
Basketball analyst. Creator of ESPN's Real Plus-Minus. Formerly with the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks
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