Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso is one of the most impactful players in the NBA. But don’t take our word for it. Instead, read what Bulls stars Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan and Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant have to say about Caruso.
“Some of the things he does, diving on the boards, sacrificing his body, you’ve got to follow behind your brother when you see that,” DeRozan told Jamal Collier of ESPN. “And you want to help him as much as possible.”
Caruso made the All-Defensive First Team last season and he could make it again this season. The former Los Angeles Lakers guard is averaging 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks and has a defensive rating of 111.8.
“He helps the entire team, lifts the energy and he pretty much quarterbacks the defense when he’s out there,” LaVine told ESPN.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns Updates
Led by Caruso, the Bulls finished fifth in the NBA in defensive efficiency during the 2022-23 season. With Caruso on the floor last season, the Bulls’ defense gave up an average of 106.5 points per 100 possessions, a number that increased to 112.5 when Caruso wasn’t playing.
Caruso was top five in field goal percentage allowed as the contesting defender last season. He also led all guards in defensive LEBRON, ranked top five in steals per 36 minutes and led the NBA in deflections per 36 minutes among players to play at least 1,000 minutes, per NBA Advanced Stats.
“First of all, it’s just his mentality,” Durant said. “A hard worker that’s going to do all that he can for his teammates. Great teammate that plays hard and that makes up for a lot of mistakes. He’s a phenomenal player, phenomenal — I don’t even want to call him a role player. He’s just a guy that you can plug with any lineup and he’s going to make the right reads, the right plays on the defensive and offensive side. Bulls are lucky to have him.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns Updates
Multiple contenders are interested in trading for Caruso. If the Bulls don’t have a winning record near the February trade deadline, Caruso could be traded to a playoff team.
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