Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App

Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Search
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • 2024 preseason
    • 2024-2025 regular season
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Lakers Nation > Blog > Featured > Lakers News: LeBron James Praises Alex Caruso For Playing ‘Championship Basketball’
FeaturedLakers News

Lakers News: LeBron James Praises Alex Caruso For Playing ‘Championship Basketball’

Damian Burchardt
Published: 01/29/2021
3 Min Read
Alex Caruso, LeBron James, Lakers
Adam Pantozzi-NBAE
SHARE

Alex Caruso has made a meteoric rise to since signing with the Los Angeles Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

Over the last two years, the Texas A&M product has become one of the team’s defensive specialists, doing the dirty work that stats do not often reflect. Caruso developed a particularly strong rapport with four-time NBA champion LeBron James, creating a duo known for featuring high in plus-minus stat boxes.

“A.C. is whatever we need,” his partner in crime, James, said. “A.C. is kind of a Swiss Army knife, to be honest. If you need scissors, a wine opener, a fingernail clipper, a knife, he’s all of that in one. He can do it all.”

James added Caruso plays “championship basketball” alluding to his versatility, decision-making, and outstanding defense. “He just helps our ballclub in so many different ways,” he said.

“He can bring the ball up and play the point, he can play off the ball, he’s shooting deadeye from 3 this year and he defends at a high level. And he doesn’t make many mistakes. You always can live with that. You can live with a guy on the floor like that.”

It has almost become a universal truth that L.A. plays better when the versatile guard is on the floor. It particularly transpired in the Orlando bubble when Caruso stepped up in the wake of Avery Bradley’s absence last year.

But he surprised again this season emerging as a lethal sharpshooter over the first month of the 2020-21 campaign. While not qualified to be officially rank as such, Caruso is making a league-best 54.3% of his shots from downtown.

It’s a marked improvement on the 33.3% he recorded last season and his 38.9% career average.

Caruso enters free agency in 2021

Caruso’s continuous improvement could turn out to be a double-edged sword for the Lakers. The guard will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current season and, turning 27 in February, enter the prime years of his career.

While the Lakers are hard-capped this year, Caruso will certainly attract many suitors ready to offer him a significant upgrade on his $2.75-million contract.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Alex CarusoLeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers
ByDamian Burchardt
Follow:
Damian Burchardt is a sports writer who has covered basketball, soccer, and many other disciplines for numerous U.K. and U.S. media outlets, including The Independent, The Guardian, The Sun, The Berkshire Eagle, The Boston Globe, and The Ringer.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?