Sports
Thunder’s Alex Caruso Praises Rookie Chris Youngblood Ahead of Season

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Oklahoma City Thunder veteran Alex Caruso shared his thoughts about rookie Chris Youngblood during a recent practice, ahead of the team’s preseason rematch against the Charlotte Hornets.
Caruso, who has experienced the challenges of entering training camp on an Exhibit-10 deal, spoke highly of Youngblood after the team’s preseason opener. In that game, Youngblood scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting in just 21 minutes, contributing to the Thunder’s 135-114 victory.
“CY has done a great job of being true to himself,” Caruso said. “He’s obviously a tremendous shooter — he’s locked and loaded every time the ball comes his way. That carries value and carries a threat for the team in the game of basketball nowadays.”
Caruso continued to praise Youngblood’s positive attitude and work ethic. “Every day he comes in with a smile on his face, and he’s working hard, trying to push himself in more drills. He’s a joy to be around. He’s a good teammate,” Caruso added.
In addition to discussing Youngblood, Caruso highlighted the competitive spirit of teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He labeled Gilgeous-Alexander as a future Hall of Famer and noted his exceptional work ethic. “Greatness doesn’t rest — that’s what I’ve seen from the guys in the league that are Hall of Famers,” Caruso said.
As the reigning MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander enters the 2025-26 season with early odds to win the award for a second consecutive year, trailing only Denver’s Nikola Jokic.