Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

If the shoe fits: OKC's Alex Caruso gets technical foul for sneaky play

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Mar 17, 2026 9:28 PM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso is widely considered one of the better defensive players in the NBA and has become quite effective in his career at locking opponents down. There are few players in the league as relentless and tenacious as him on the defensive side of the ball. He tried to introduce a new strategy on Tuesday night. It just wasn't a legal strategy.

Alex Caruso uses shoe to block shot

In the second quarter of their game against the Orlando Magic, Caruso appeared to block a shot attempt from Tristan Da Silva as he drove to the hoop.

But there was something off about the play, and Caruso was not able to sneak it by the officials.

Caruso had lost his shoe during the play and was holding it in his right hand as he attempted to defend the paint. As Da Silva tried to get his shot off, Caruso swatted the ball away with his shoe.

Alex Caruso ended up receiving a tech for using his shoe on this play pic.twitter.com/fuDU9hpavW
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 18, 2026

Funny play, for certain. Everybody also got a good laugh out of it, as they should have. After all, how often do you see a player use their shoe to try and block a shot? But it still resulted in Caruso getting a technical foul, while also being called for goaltending. Between the goaltending call and the foul shot for the technical foul, it ended up being a three-point play for the Magic.

This is one play that will not be showing up on Caruso's defensive highlight reel.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

More must-reads: