Holding the unofficial title of being the NBA’s “most meme-able” player, Alex Caruso has been on the receiving end of jokes for a few years now. Not in a bad way, though. Many call him the “GOAT”, the third superstar on the Los Angeles Lakers, and so on. But maybe it’s time to start taking his contributions seriously. Well, it is time.
After being undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Caruso flirted around in the G-League. Firstly, with the Oklahoma City Blue, and then with the South Bay Lakers. He flourished in the G-League and just a year into his professional career, he signed the Lakers’ first two-way contract ever.
However, whilst he destroyed the G-League, he struggled on NBA courts. Averaging just 3.6 points in the 2017/18 campaign. The Lakers did decide to bring Caruso back on another two-way deal the following season though. This is where he snatched the opportunity with both hands.
As the purple and gold suffered multiple injuries at the end of the 2018/19 season, Caruso found his minutes elevated. In the final 13 games of the season, he held a team-high +4.8 in plus/minus. Which was higher than teammate LeBron James, at the time. He also broke the 15-point mark on 6 occasions, including a 32-point performance against the Los Angeles Clippers.
This led to Alex Caruso signing a permanent 2-year, $5.5 million contract this past summer. What a remarkable rise, right?
He may only be averaging 5.5 points per game, alongside 1.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals, but his presence is so important to the success of the 2019/20 Lakers. He is constantly locked in on defense, both on-and-off the ball. His basketball IQ is off-the-charts, and he reads steals with ease. In-fact, Caruso is 4th highest on the roster in terms of steals per game.
His speedy hand’s force opponent errors and turnovers. His quick thinking allows him to draw charges at pivotal times in the game, shifting momentum in the Lakers’ favour. Before the win against the Golden State Warriors on February 27, the Lakers outscored opponents by 67 points in Caruso’s 71 minutes on the court in the previous 4 games. According to the Lakers’ Joey Ramirez. Those games being wins against the New Orleans Pelicans, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Denver Nuggets.
Additionally, Alex Caruso’s impact is seen in his average plus/minus. Where he sits 4th on the Lakers’ with a rating of 4.6, behind LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Danny Green. When sitting on defense against NBA guards, he limits opponents’ shooting to 42.5%. It’s not an incredibly low number but shows that opponents don’t get that hot hand, due to his defensive tenacity.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66030571/1192017518.jpg.0.jpg)
His highlight-worthy dunks really spur the team onto victory too. Sometimes even completely changing the dynamic of a game. He’s a side-before self type of player that accepts his role on the team. Something that is so important to Championship contenders.
You have to look beyond the statistics with Alex Caruso. His averages don’t tell the full story. His defensive energy, his ability to dig deep, and his ability to put his body on the line, is a game-changer for the Lakers. A game-changer that is homegrown.
