Caruso Schools OKC on Champagne Fails After Finals Triumph
Soft panic mode activated in OKC’s locker room, and yes, Alex Caruso totally rolled his eyes—again. Picture this: the Thunder, fresh off their Game 7 NBA Finals victory, brandishing bubbly but utterly clueless about popping it. Enter Caruso, the veteran champ moonlighting at an OKC Raising Cane’s drive-thru, stepping in to teach the rookies how to actually open a bottle. On Thursday, June 27, 2025, he admitted to TMZ Sports, “it was not a great showing,” before promising that “we’ll be better the next time around. Whenever that is.”
Let’s unpack this with minimal fanfare. Oklahoma City’s on-court hustle earned the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but their celebration choreography was straight-up awkward. Videos of Champagne showers gone wrong went viral, with foam spraying everywhere except on the players. Caruso, 31 and two-time champ, jogged over to save the day—literally bashing tops, twisting corks, and schooling his younger teammates on the art of the pop. If you thought NBA glory came with a manual, think again.
Beyond the fizz fiasco, Caruso had nothing but praise for Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He marveled at Shai’s killer instinct, calling him “one of the fiercest competitors” he’s ever shared a court with. It’s the kind of public back-patting that cements team chemistry and feeds highlight reels, sourced straight from our chat with TMZ Sports. Plus, he dropped motivational wisdom for undrafted players scrambling post-NBA Draft on Wednesday: buckle up, stay hungry, and never bank on the pick list. It’s advice born from carving out a career as a two-way guard who once went undrafted himself.
While the confetti was still settling, Caruso juggled a ceremonial shift at Raising Cane’s, slinging chicken tenders between postgame interviews. He admitted life’s a blur since that final buzzer, but he’s savoring the moment—champagne lessons and all. Next time OKC’s in a title clincher, expect a tutorial from Caruso queued up on the big screen so no rookie misses the memo.
So yeah, the Thunder may dominate on hardwood but need a quick tutorial on party basics. Caruso’s vow? No more Instagram fodder of puckered-up rookie pops. Whatever happens next, just know the guy in the Raising Cane’s shirt has the champagne game on lock. If this trends, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ Sports, TMZ.com, NBA.com, Twitter (embedded Caruso post)
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
