Before Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder players Lu Dort and Alex Caruso shared how they’re managing nerves and pressure with one win standing between them and a championship. In an exclusive interview with Nacho Garcia, both players reflect on focus, mindset, and the magnitude of the moment ahead of a potential title-clinching game in Indianapolis.
00:00Before game 6 of the NBA Finals in Indianapolis, with the Oklahoma City Thunder one win from the title, Nacho Garcia speaks with Lou Dort and Alex Caruso about handling pressure, staying focused, and chasing the championship. Here's what they had to say.
00:14What's in your mind when you are this close to be a champion?
00:19Still go out there, approach the game the same way, still got another win to get, so take away all the distractions and do everything to get the win.
00:30How tough, how easy is it to control the emotions? Not what happens around you, but what happens inside you?
00:38I wouldn't say it's tough. Just approaching like it's another game. We've played so many games this year.
00:43I can't even count how many games to play offseason, so approach it the same way. It's going to be another tough challenge.
00:51Go out there, compete, play hard, and give our best chance to win.
00:54What's in your mind when you are so close? How tough, how easy is it to manage the emotions, to control the emotions?
01:01Yeah, I've been preparing for this moment for a couple of years, so I've had the idea of what I thought it would feel like watching other teams win the final game.
01:13You know, I don't feel very different right now. You know, I'm very, very concentrated, very focused on, you know, winning the fourth game.
01:20Because we've talked about all series when we were down 1-0, when we were down 2-1, it's the team to four that wins first, so that's still my mentality is to try and get this last win.
01:29I know the atmosphere is pretty different right now, respect when you were championing the bubble. Obviously, you were not here.
01:35But are you feeling or remembering some feelings of that moment when you are so close?
01:41Yeah, same adrenaline, same focus, same energies around it, you know, like you understand the moment of how close you are,
01:56and you just want to be ready to put your best out there and leave it all out there.
