Alex Caruso Praises Cason Wallace’s Unteachable Defensive Instincts
The Oklahoma City Thunder are putting together one of the most dominant defensive seasons in NBA history, and a big reason for that is the elite group of perimeter defenders they’ve assembled. Among them, Alex Caruso has been a key addition, bringing his defensive prowess from the Chicago Bulls to an already gritty OKC squad. But while Caruso has built his career on smart, disciplined defense, he’s been particularly impressed by one of his younger teammates—Cason Wallace.
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In a recent appearance on The Young Man and the Three podcast, Caruso had high praise for Wallace, calling his defensive instincts something you simply can’t teach. According to Caruso, Wallace's ability to read the game and react on the fly is remarkable for a second-year player.
“For him, it’s almost all instinct,” Caruso said. “I had to learn what everybody’s tendencies were to be able to get into position and be good at it. For him, he’s learning on the fly and just using pure athletic ability and a defensive mindset. He’s just sitting down and guarding. He’s blocked more jump shots this year than I’ve seen in my entire NBA career.”
That’s no exaggeration. Wallace has been a defensive menace for the Thunder this season, recording 26 blocks and 94 steals through 54 games. With an average of 2.2 combined steals and blocks per game in just 27.4 minutes per contest, he’s proving to be a crucial piece of OKC’s defensive puzzle.
The Thunder’s defense, anchored by Caruso, Wallace, and Lu Dort, has been overwhelming opponents all season. Their ability to apply relentless pressure on the perimeter forces turnovers and disrupts even the best offensive schemes. And with Wallace’s natural instincts complementing the veteran leadership of Caruso, it’s no wonder the Thunder are eyeing a deep playoff run.
As the postseason approaches, OKC’s defense could be the key to their championship aspirations. If Wallace continues to evolve at this pace, he could soon find himself as one of the league’s premier defenders—just like Caruso.
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