Texas A&M Professional Athletes

Texas A&M's NBA alumni class is off to a fast start in the 2026-27 season, with Alex Caruso and Robert Williams III headlining a week that blended eye-popping performance with off-court intrigue.

Caruso: The League's Most Unguardable +/- Machine

Through two games this week, Alex Caruso posted a combined plus-minus of +33 — a number that tells you everything about what the OKC Thunder get from the former Aggie. In Wednesday's 116-104 win over San Antonio, Caruso logged 25 minutes, finishing with 9 points, 6 rebounds, a steal, and a +16. He followed that up Friday against Denver with 7 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and a steal in just 19 minutes — again at +17 — as the Thunder rolled to a 96-84 victory.

The performance isn't happening in a vacuum. With OKC locking in Cason Wallace on a new deal, Caruso's roster fit has drawn renewed scrutiny — and the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly circling. Per Heavy Sports, the Lakers have been linked to a potential reunion with the 2020 champion and All-Defensive standout, who remains one of the most coveted two-way wings in the league. For now, he's an OKC Thunder problem for opponents to solve. But Laker Nation is watching.

Robert Williams III: Portland's Anchor

Out in Portland, Robert Williams III is delivering on the promise of the three-year, $44 million contract he signed with the Trail Blazers this offseason. The deal raised eyebrows given his injury history, but the early returns look sound. Against Phoenix on Thursday, Williams put up 2 points, 10 rebounds, and a block in just 15 minutes, finishing a stunning +16 in a 124-83 blowout. Two days later against Sacramento, he added 13 points, 6 boards, and a block — his most productive scoring night of the young season.

The bigger conversation around Williams, per Sports Illustrated, is whether Portland would even entertain moving him after just signing him. His defensive IQ, rim protection, and rebounding give the rebuilding Blazers a legitimate anchor — exactly what they need as they develop younger pieces. His plus-minus figures early on suggest the fit is real.

The Rest of the Aggie Roster

Khris Middleton is easing back into things with the Washington Wizards, logging modest minutes across two games — 6 points and 2 steals in a 102-112 loss to Toronto on Friday, and 2 points in 12 minutes during a win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. The Wizards are in full rebuild mode, and Middleton's role appears limited but functional.

Quenton Jackson continues to carve out a rotation spot in Indiana. The Pacers guard posted 8 points, 3 assists, and a +6 in Friday's loss to Dallas, and flashed his defensive upside earlier in the week with 3 steals against New Orleans. He spoke to media during training camp and is firmly on the radar as a depth piece Rick Carlisle trusts.

DeAndre Jordan suited up for the Pelicans in both their games this week — a narrow 119-120 loss to Utah on Saturday and a three-point setback to Indiana — though no stat line was recorded, suggesting limited action.

Five Aggies active in the NBA's opening week. Two of them are already must-watch names. That's a strong early return for College Station.

Alex Caruso Is Hungry — and Oklahoma City Is Noticing

The 2026-27 NBA season hasn't tipped off yet, but Texas A&M's most prominent active alumnus is already making noise. Alex Caruso has appeared in the starting five twice during Oklahoma City's preseason, and for a player who has historically come off the bench, the signal is hard to ignore.

According to Sports Illustrated, Caruso's preseason starting opportunities may be a genuine indicator of an expanded role heading into the regular season — not just a coach tinkering with lineups in low-stakes October games. For a veteran who has carved out an elite reputation as a defender and glue guy, a starting nod would represent a meaningful elevation in his profile on one of the NBA's most talented rosters.

The motivation isn't hard to locate. Caruso has made no secret of how much last season's playoff exit still stings. The Thunder entered last year with legitimate championship expectations, only to fall to the San Antonio Spurs in a Game 7 — a result Caruso has described as painful and difficult to shake, per Heavy Sports. That kind of heartbreak, arriving one win away from advancing, tends to either deflate a player or sharpen them. All early signs point to the latter for Caruso.

The combination of a potential role upgrade and that chip on his shoulder makes him one of the more compelling storylines in the Western Conference entering the new season.

Around the League

Caruso isn't the only Aggie drawing attention in the early going. Khris Middleton, now with the Washington Wizards, is listed as day-to-day heading into the preseason stretch, per Yahoo Sports, leaving his availability in flux as Washington works through its October schedule. Middleton's health has been a persistent storyline throughout his career, and how quickly he gets up to speed will be worth monitoring as the regular season approaches.

Elsewhere in the A&M alumni network, Robert Williams III is with the Trail Blazers, Danuel House Jr. is in Philadelphia with the 76ers, Dexter Dennis is on the Mavericks roster, Quenton Jackson is in Indiana with the Pacers, and DeAndre Jordan is with New Orleans. None generated significant news during this period, but the sheer breadth of Aggies across the league underscores how consistently Texas A&M has produced NBA-caliber talent.

The Bottom Line

Caruso remains the flagship name, and right now he's playing with something to prove. Whether the preseason starts translate into a permanent role change remains to be seen — but the Thunder's trust in him, combined with the fuel of an unfinished playoff run, makes him one of the more intriguing players to track as the 2026-27 season gets underway. Gig 'em, Alex.