The Big Lead

9-year-old photo of Alex Caruso and Mark Daigneault goes viral after OKC Thunder’s big win

Alex Caruso and Mark Daigneault have an incredible, 9-year-old G League picture together that has now gone viral after the OKC Thunder made the Western Conference Finals.

By Divij Kulkarni

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso reacts after a call against the Denver Nuggets during the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso reacts after a call against the Denver Nuggets during the 2025 NBA Playoffs. / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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The Oklahoma City Thunder are flying high, having blown out the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. One of the biggest heroes of their big win was Alex Caruso, who valiantly guarded Nikola Jokic despite giving up a huge size advantage.

Putting Caruso on Jokic was a masterstroke; head coach Mark Daigneault deserves a lot of credit for his adjustment. Even as Thunder fans sing both their praises, there's something many people don't know. This isn't the first time Daigneault has coached Caruso in Oklahoma City.

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In 2016, Caruso wasn't picked during the NBA Draft. He played with the Sixers in the Summer League before being signed and waived by the Thunder. He was then picked up by the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA Development League, which is the G League.

Daigneault was coaching the Blue during that time, and a photo of the two from then has now gone viral on social media.

"Imagine telling these two, nine years ago while they were grinding in the G League, that they’d be heading to an NBA Western Conference Finals together one day," a fan wrote in a post on X.

Another comment read, "If OKC wins it all, this will pretty easily go down as one of my fav Thunder pics of all time."

A third fan said, "Legendary glow-up alert. From G League hustle to WCF muscle — proof dreams don’t have an expiration date." Another simply said, "Life is beautiful."

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A fifth fan pointed out, "Incredible how the last time the OKC Thunder was in the WCF was 9 years ago too." One comment summed up the vibes, "This seals it, OKC is winning it all."

Caruso has worked hard to become an NBA champion, and has found his niche as an elite role player in recent years. Mark Daigneault has revived the Thunder and they have a real chance at winning a title this season. This picture is truly inspirational.

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