Following his second NBA championship, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso is already setting his sights on the upcoming season, determined to elevate his team’s national profile. Despite recent setbacks, including a serious injury to star Tyrese Haliburton, the Thunder’s historic title run thrust the small-market team into the league’s spotlight sooner than many anticipated.
Unexpected Rise Pushes Thunder into National Spotlight Earlier Than Expected
OKC’s breakthrough season forced the NBA to showcase the Thunder more frequently on national television. Caruso noted that starting in February, the team appeared in numerous televised matchups against well-known franchises like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Lakers.
We got pushed into the national TV games in February; we were so good, and nobody expected it,
Caruso said during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
So, [the NBA] had to add like five to 10 games where we’re playing the Cavs and the Celtics and Denver and the Lakers on TV.
—Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder Guard
Caruso Seeks NBA Christmas Day Highlight for Oklahoma City
As the Thunder prepare for the next campaign, Caruso is optimistic that their championship status will earn them a coveted Christmas Day game, a major national spotlight for any NBA franchise. He emphasized that recognition in professional sports must be earned, and now that they have won, the Thunder deserve significant visibility.
The whole thing with… 95 percent of pro sports, you have to earn it,
Caruso explained.
Until you win, they don’t really care about you. They’re not going to put you on TV. They’re not going to talk about you. But once you win, you can’t ignore it. From that aspect, we better play on Christmas next year.
—Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder Guard
Challenges of Securing Christmas Day Coverage Amid NFL Dominance
Pat McAfee pointed out that the NFL currently dominates Christmas Day sports broadcasting, suggesting that a Christmas Eve game might be a more realistic target for the Thunder. Nonetheless, Caruso expressed a strong desire to play on Christmas morning itself, finding appeal in balancing basketball exposure with enjoying football later in the day.
I would love to play Christmas morning and have the rest of the day to watch football,
Caruso said. That would be awesome. —Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder Guard
Predictions Indicate Thunder May Miss Out on Christmas Day Spotlight in 2025
Despite Caruso’s aspirations, sports analyst Matt Yoder from Awful Announcing predicted in a recent newsletter that the 2025 NBA Christmas Day schedule will feature an 8 p.m. ET game that does not include the Thunder. Instead, the projected highlight game is between the defending champions and a revamped Lakers team, spotlighting LeBron James facing off against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) and the presence of Luka Doncic.
This is the best possible matchup with the defending NBA champions taking on the all-time leading scorer and a recharged Lakers team looking to go further thanks to a full season with Luka Doncic. The Thunder may not be a big ratings draw on their own yet, but LeBron vs SGA could be a matchup that symbolically passes the NBA torch.
—Matt Yoder, Awful Announcing
Future Outlook for the Thunder’s National Exposure
While this forecast may disappoint Caruso and Thunder fans, it is not definitive. Should Oklahoma City continue its remarkable performance trajectory, competing on Christmas Day will likely move from ambition to expectation, securing the Thunder a prime position on the NBA’s biggest stage. Their continued success will be crucial in maintaining and expanding their media presence amid a highly competitive sports landscape.