Los Angeles — LeBron James said facing Alex Caruso in the 2026 Western Conference semifinals reminded him how much he misses the guard who helped the Los Angeles Lakers capture the 2020 NBA championship.
During the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, the 41-year-old forward reflected on matching up with Caruso throughout Game 4 on May 11 at Crypto.com Arena, where the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Lakers.
“I miss him every single day,” James said. “If you want to compete, AC is going to be right there. He’s going to get up underneath you, grab you, hold you and compete at a professional level. AC’s not going to beat himself, so you have to play that chess game with him.”
James praised Caruso’s quick hands and defensive awareness, noting that careless ball-handling is risky when the Thunder guard is nearby. “You can’t play with the ball around him because he will take it from you,” James added. “Offensively, you have to be very strategic with your body positioning.”
The four-time MVP said he anticipated Caruso guarding him whenever the former Laker checked in, regardless of whether Thunder forward Luguentz Dort was on the floor. “I already knew he was guarding me every time he came off the bench,” James said. “It was fun; I loved that.”
Caruso, now a key reserve for Oklahoma City, continues to supply perimeter defense, timely three-point shooting and postseason poise as the Thunder attempt to become the NBA’s first repeat champion since 2018. The Lakers chose not to re-sign him in free agency several years ago.
On the same podcast, James also discussed San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama, stressing that the 7-foot-4 center’s skill set, rather than his height, separates him from previous tall prospects.
Source: Lakers Nation
