Questions have been raised about the Oklahoma City Thunder’s highly physical defensive system. However, did the officials let Alex Caruso slide away with a lesser punishment when they took on the Orlando Magic tonight? In a hilarious moment, the veteran guard blocked a shot with his shoe. Caruso didn’t think his stunt with his Nike Kobe 4 Protro Draft Day sneakers would warrant a technical foul.

“I didn’t know it was going to be a goaltending and a tech,” Caruso said after the game. “If I would’ve known that, I probably wouldn’t have done it because it’s three points.”

At the time, holding his size 13 shoe, something inside Caruso told him to go for the peculiar defensive play. In all logical fairness, it was clean contact with the ball. Although well executed, the Thunder guard wasn’t aware of the protocol in such situations. This was a moment when he let his intrusive thoughts win.

“As soon as I had my shoe in my hand, it crept in my mind to use it, not like in a malicious way, but like, ‘Let me try to make a play to stop the ball,'” Caruso said. “It’s just one of those weird NBA plays that probably won’t happen for like another 10 years.”

Nonetheless, it didn’t take away from a night of celebration for the Thunder. They became the first team in the West to secure a playoff spot, beating the Magic 113-108. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 40 points led the way for OKC, giving them their 10th straight win. Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell combined for 36 points as well.

Caruso had a relatively quiet night, scoring just two points, but didn’t disappoint with his effort across 24 minutes. Caruso grabbed 8 rebounds and generated two steals. His +19 plus/minus was the highest mark of any Thunder player. With that being said, serious questions are being raised about whether the Thunder star should have been allowed to continue.

Alex Caruso faces criticism from an NBA legend and his Thunder teammate

Alex Caruso didn’t regret trying to be creative. His intention wasn’t to use the shoe for any other purpose but to get the stop. It’s illegal, which explains the punishment. However, NBA legend Eddie A Johnson felt like the officials shouldn’t have allowed the Thunder guard to continue.

“That should have been an ejection,” Johnson wrote on X.

Similarly, in a less serious criticism, Caruso’s teammate Jalen Williams also chimed in, posting the play on his Instagram story.

“Should have ejected him on the spot,” Williams wrote, terming the play as ‘not ethical.’

Well, Caruso came to his own defense for the second time. “All. Ball,” he wrote on his Instagram.

In all seriousness, there may be a reason Caruso wasn’t thrown out of the game. It could have endangered the incoming player had the shoe not struck the ball. Hence, Johnson isn’t wrong to feel the way he does. However, it’s possible that the officials gave Caruso the benefit of the doubt because of his approach.

The guard wasn’t trying to hurt any player, and neither did he actually strike anyone. It met the criteria for a technical foul since he created an advantage by using his shoe. Had it impeded the player with contact, it’s highly possible Caruso wouldn’t have featured in the game from that point on.