Since going undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2016, Alex Caruso has developed into a rising household name for the Los Angeles Lakers. After a stint in the G League and a pair of two-way contracts, Caruso signed a two-year deal to stay in Los Angeles over the offseason.
Alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the 2019-20 NBA campaign, Caruso is averaging 5.5 points on 42.0% shooting from the field with 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game. While the Lakers clinched the top-seed in the Western Conference on Monday against the Jazz, Caruso recorded five assists, three points and three rebounds in 23 minutes.
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As the Lakers wait out the seeding round in the Orlando Bubble, the 26-year-old point guard was asked about his “welcome to the NBA moment.” In an interview on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Caruso revealed his memorable moment came in a match up with Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors.
Via The Dan Patrick Show:
I have a good one. We were playing Warriors, before they broke up, the band, and it was Klay [Thompson], Steph [Curry], KD [Kevin Durant]. And we were playing a game, and at that point, our Lakers team backcourt was me, Isaiah Thomas and ‘Zo [Lonzo Ball]. And we went out to match up after a timeout, and I’m doing the mental check as a point guard matching up ‘him, him, him,’ and then I look, and I’m like, ‘okay, that leaves me with KD.’ — I look over at the bench, and coach Brian Keefe is just shaking his head ‘yup.’
So I do my normal pick up at fullcourt just to give a little pressure — and he inbounds the ball and kinda looks around and realizes I’m guarding him and he’s like ‘hey man, give me the ball.’
100% he said it out loud.
Despite Durant’s confidence, Caruso said he held his own against the former Most Valuable Player, calling the experience a “pretty neutral encounter.”
I will say I held my own. He went 1-for-2, hit a tough shot and then I got a turnover. I feel like that was a pretty neutral encounter.
Alex Caruso on his “welcome to the NBA moment” video courtesy of the @dpshow: pic.twitter.com/Wdhi7xTjXz
— The Lakers Review (@TheLakersReview) August 4, 2020
In a matchup with the Warriors in April 2019, Caruso was the centerpiece of a viral highlight that left his teammates in awe. The guard flew by Durant and Klay Thompson for a vicious putback dunk.
Via @DefPenHoops on Twitter:
That time Alex Caruso got the rebound and putback over KD 💥 pic.twitter.com/ZzZDsb2GwR
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 15, 2020
While Caruso and the Lakers are busy in the Orlando Bubble, Durant is working his way back to the court from injury. Caruso will have to wait until 2020-21 to link up with the player who helped welcome him to the NBA.
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