Alex Caruso

Caruso attended A&M Consolidated High School in his native College Station, Texas, where he played basketball under head coaches Rusty Segler and Rick German. As a senior, he averaged 18 points and nine rebounds and was named TABC All-Regional, All-State as well as TABC All-Star and district MVP after leading his team to the postseason.{{cite web|title=Texas A&M bio|url=http://www.12thman.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1646|website=The12thMan.com|access-date=October 7, 2016}}

File:Alex Caruso.jpg in 2015]]

After graduating from high school, Caruso joined the Texas A&M Aggies. In 137 games over his four-year career, he averaged 8.0 points, 4.7 assists and 2.02 steals per game, finishing as the school's all-time leader in assists with 649 and steals with 276, surpassing David Edwards in those categories.{{cite news|title=Former Texas A&M basketball player David Edwards dead at 48|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2020/03/25/former-texas-am-basketball-player-david-edwards-dead-at-48/111464254/|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=March 25, 2020|access-date=June 3, 2020}} As a senior he led the Aggies to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament; he also earned SEC All-Defensive Team and second-team All-SEC honors. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports management.{{cite web|title=Thunder Adds Caruso, Tarczewski and Wright to Training Camp Roster|url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/caruso-tarczewski-wright-160923|website=NBA.com|date=September 23, 2016|access-date=October 7, 2016}}

After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Caruso joined the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2016 NBA Summer League.{{cite web|first=Bret|last=Stuter|title=Philadelphia 76ers Release Full Summer League Roster|url=http://thesixersense.com/2016/07/01/philadelphia-76ers-release-full-summer-league-roster/|website=TheSixerSense.com|publisher=Fansided|date=July 1, 2016|access-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416200525/https://thesixersense.com/2016/07/01/philadelphia-76ers-release-full-summer-league-roster/|archive-date=April 16, 2018|url-status=dead}} On September 23, 2016, he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but was later waived on October 17.{{cite web|title=Thunder sign Reggie Williams|url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/williams-161017|website=NBA.com|date=October 17, 2016|access-date=October 17, 2016}} On November 3, he was acquired by the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA Development League.{{cite web|title=Oklahoma City Blue Announces Training Camp Roster|url=http://oklahomacity.dleague.nba.com/news/oklahoma-city-blue-announces-training-camp-roster/|website=NBA.com|date=November 3, 2016|access-date=November 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115155159/http://oklahomacity.dleague.nba.com/news/oklahoma-city-blue-announces-training-camp-roster/|archive-date=January 15, 2017|url-status=dead}}

Caruso joined the Lakers for the 2017 NBA Summer League. After several productive games, including one in which Caruso started in place of the injured Lonzo Ball and led the Lakers to a victory, he was signed to the Lakers' first two-way contract on July 13, 2017. He became the first player to go directly from the D-League (now G League) to the NBA via two-way contract.{{cite news|title=Lakers Sign Alex Caruso|url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/170713-alex-caruso-signed|website=NBA.com|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=July 13, 2017}} He also helped lead the Lakers win the 2017 NBA Summer League Championship in Las Vegas. Caruso made his NBA debut on October 19, 2017, against the Los Angeles Clippers.{{cite web|title=Alex Caruso makes NBA debut|url=http://www.kbtx.com/content/sports/Alex-Caruso-makes-NBA-debut-451846153.html|website=KBTX.com|date=October 20, 2017|access-date=March 14, 2018}} He played 12 minutes and recorded two points, two assists, and one rebound in a 108–92 loss. He had a career-high 15 points and seven rebounds in a victory in the final game of the season against the Clippers.

Caruso signed another two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after a successful showing in the 2018 NBA Summer League. On March 6, 2019, he recorded a season-high 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists in a 99–115 loss to the Denver Nuggets. He scored a new career-high 32 points in a 122–117 victory over the Clippers on April 5.{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Duarte|title=Alex Caruso Scores Career-High 32 Points as Lakers Upset Clippers in Final Matchup of Season|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Alex-Caruso-Scores-Career-High-508202591.html|website=NBCLosAngeles.com|date=April 5, 2019|access-date=April 7, 2019}} He also became the only Laker that season other than LeBron James to record a 30+ point, 10+ rebound, 5+ assist game.{{cite web|first=Kyle|last=Irving|title=Alex Who is Alex Caruso? Fast facts on the Los Angeles Lakers guard|url=https://ca.nba.com/news/who-is-alex-caruso-fast-facts-on-the-los-angeles-lakers-guard/80zu1aqyax5l174ceka3ewin6|website=NBA.com|date=April 4, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2019}} On April 7, 2019, with the Lakers missing James for the remaining six games, Caruso scored 18 points with a career-high 11 assists in a 113–109 home win over the Utah Jazz.{{cite web|first=Rob|last=Goldberg|title=LeBron James-Less Lakers Beat Donovan Mitchell, Jazz as Alex Caruso Scores 18|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2830106-lebron-james-less-lakers-beat-donovan-mitchell-jazz-as-alex-caruso-scores-18|website=BleacherReport.com|date=April 8, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2019}}

On July 6, 2019, Caruso signed a two-year contract with the Lakers worth $5.5 million.{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Wells|title=Lakers Rumors: Alex Caruso Re-Signs on 2-Year, $5.5M Contract|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2844501-lakers-rumors-alex-caruso-re-signs-on-2-year-55m-contract|website=BleacherReport.com|date=July 6, 2019|access-date=October 3, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Lakers' Alex Caruso: Returning to Lakers|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/lakers-alex-caruso-returning-to-lakers/|website=CBSSports.com|date=July 6, 2019|access-date=October 3, 2020}} He won his first NBA championship with them on October 11, 2020, when the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in six games. Caruso started the clinching game of the NBA Finals. He became an unrestricted free agent after the 2020–21 season.{{cite news|first=Broderick|last=Turner|title=Lakers fan favorite Alex Caruso faces the unknown of free agency|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2021-06-04/lakers-alex-caruso-free-agency-contract|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 4, 2021|access-date=August 11, 2021}}

On August 10, 2021, Caruso signed a four-year, $37 million{{cite web|title=Alex Caruso|url=https://www.spotrac.com/nba/chicago-bulls/alex-caruso-21076/|website=Spotrac.com|access-date=August 10, 2021}} contract with the Chicago Bulls.{{cite web|title=Bulls Sign Alex Caruso|url=https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-sign-alex-caruso|website=NBA.com|date=August 10, 2021|access-date=August 10, 2021}} Caruso chose to wear number 6 with the Bulls as his usual number 4 had been retired by the team in honor of Jerry Sloan.

On January 21, 2022, during a 90–94 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Caruso was fouled by opposing guard Grayson Allen. Allen was ejected from the game. The next day, the Bulls announced that Caruso had a fractured right wrist and would undergo surgery, keeping him out for at least 6-to-8 weeks.{{cite web|title=Chicago Bulls G Alex Caruso to have surgery for fractured wrist, out 6 to 8 weeks, says team|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33124289/chicago-bulls-g-alex-caruso-surgery-fractured-wrist-6-8-weeks-says-team|website=ESPN.com|date=January 22, 2022|access-date=January 22, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122210114/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33124289/chicago-bulls-g-alex-caruso-surgery-fractured-wrist-6-8-weeks-says-team|archive-date=January 22, 2022}}

At the end of the 2023 season, Caruso was named for the first time to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.{{cite web|title=Jaren Jackson Jr. headlines 2022-23 Kia NBA All-Defensive teams|url=https://www.nba.com/news/2022-23-all-defensive-teams-announced|website=NBA.com|date=May 10, 2023|access-date=May 9, 2023}}

On October 27, 2023, Caruso put up 13 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block alongside a game-winning three-pointer in a 104–103 overtime win over the Toronto Raptors.{{cite web|first=Angelo|last=Guinhawa|title=VIDEO: Alex Caruso sticks dagger in Raptors' hearts with ice-cold OT game-winner for Bulls|url=https://clutchpoints.com/bulls-news-alex-caruso-sticks-dagger-in-raptors-hearts-with-ice-cold-ot-game-winner|website=ClutchPoints.com|date=October 27, 2023|access-date=October 27, 2023}} He won the NBA Hustle Award in 2023–24.{{cite news|first=Kurt|last=Helin|title=Bulls’ Alex Caruso wins 2024 NBA Hustle Award|date=May 2, 2024|work=NBC Sports|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/bulls-alex-caruso-wins-2024-nba-hustle-award|access-date=April 26, 2025}}

On June 21, 2024, Caruso was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Josh Giddey.{{cite news|title=Thunder Acquires Alex Caruso|url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-caruso-240621|website=NBA.com|date=June 21, 2024|access-date=June 21, 2024}} The move reunited Caruso with Mark Daigneault who coached him during his tenure with the Oklahoma City Blue. On December 22, Caruso and the Thunder agreed to a four–year, $81 million contract extension.{{Cite web|title=Thunder sign Alex Caruso to reported 4-year, $81 million extension|url=https://www.nba.com/news/alex-caruso-thunder-extension|access-date=December 23, 2024|website=nba.com|language=en}}

{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2017}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 37 || 7 || 15.2 || .431 || .302 || .700 || 1.8 || 2.0 || .6 || .3 || 3.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2018}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 25 || 4 || 21.2 || .445 || .480 || .797 || 2.7 || 3.1 || 1.0 || .4 || 9.2

|-

| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|2019}}{{dagger}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 64 || 2 || 18.4 || .412 || .333 || .737 || 1.9 || 1.9 || 1.1 || .3 || 5.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2020}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 58 || 6 || 21.0 || .436 || .401 || .645 || 2.9 || 2.8 || 1.1 || .3 || 6.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2021}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Chicago

| 41 || 18 || 28.0 || .398 || .333 || .795 || 3.6 || 4.0 || 1.7 || .4 || 7.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2022}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Chicago

| 67 || 36 || 23.5 || .455 || .364 || .808 || 2.9 || 2.9 || 1.5 || .7 || 5.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2023}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Chicago

| 71 || 57 || 28.7 || .468 || .408 || .760 || 3.8 || 3.5 || 1.7 || 1.0 || 10.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2024}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Oklahoma City

| 54 || 3 || 19.3 || .446 || .353 || .824 || 2.9 || 2.5 || 1.6 || .6 || 7.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 417 || 133 || 22.3 || .440 || .376 || .758 || 2.9 || 2.8 || 1.3 || .5 || 6.9

{{s-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"| 2020{{dagger}}

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers

| 21 || 1 || 24.3 || .425 || .279 || .800 || 2.3 || 2.8 || 1.1 || .6 || 6.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 6 || 0 || 20.2 || .368 || .294 || 1.000 || 1.3 || .5 || .2 || .7 || 5.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022

| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago

| 4 || 4 || 28.3 || .391 || .389 || – || 2.8 || 4.3 || 1.3 || 1.0 || 6.3

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 31 || 5 || 24.0 || .408 || .302 || .813 || 2.2 || 2.5 || .9 || .6 || 6.4

{{s-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|2012–13

| style="text-align:left;"|Texas A&M

|| 33 || 17 || 24.7 || .373 || .265 || .600 || 3.2 || 3.4 || 1.8 || .5 || 5.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"|Texas A&M

|| 34 || 33 || 29.8 || .460 || .333 || .685 || 3.6 || 5.0 || 2.0 || .8 || 9.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|2014–15

| style="text-align:left;"|Texas A&M

|| 33 || 33 || 31.5 || .463 || .366 || .685 || 4.5 || 5.5 || 2.1 || .2 || 9.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|2015–16

| style="text-align:left;"|Texas A&M

|| 37 || 37 || 28.8 || .502 || .368 || .785 || 3.6 || 5.0 || 2.1 || .2 || 8.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

|| 137 || 120 || 28.7 || .455 || .340 || .685 || 3.7 || 4.7 || 2.0 || .4 || 8.0

{{s-end}}

Caruso has two sisters. His father played four years at Creighton and was an associate athletic director at Texas A&M.

Caruso grew up around the A&M program, spending many seasons as a ball boy for the Aggies. While studying at Texas A&M he majored in sports management.

On June 22, 2021, Caruso was arrested at Easterwood Airport in College Station, Texas, for residual marijuana left on a grinder.{{cite web|first=Kassandra|last=Tucker|title=Alex Caruso arrested at Easterwood airport on marijuana charges|url=https://www.kbtx.com/2021/06/23/alex-caruso-arrested-college-station-marijuana-possession-charges/|work=KBTX News 3|date=June 22, 2021|access-date=June 23, 2021}}

On August 20, 2024, Caruso's engagement to former Big Brother contestant Haleigh Broucher was announced.{{cite web|title=Meet Haleigh Broucher: NBA star Alex Caruso's former reality star fiancée|url=https://www.si.com/onsi/athlete-lifestyle/relationships/haleigh-broucher-alex-caruso-fiancee-photos#:~:text=Haleigh%20Broucher,%20a%20former%20contenstant,of%20the%20Oklahoma%20City%20Thunder.|website=SI.com|date=August 31, 2024|access-date=August 31, 2024}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons}}

{{basketballstats|nba=1627936|bbr=c/carusal01}}

• {{Twitter|ACFresh21}}
• [http://www.12thman.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1646 Texas A&M Aggies bio]

{{Oklahoma City Thunder current roster}}

{{Los Angeles Lakers 2019–20 NBA champions}}

{{NBA Hustle Award}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caruso, Alex}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Texas

Category:Chicago Bulls players

Category:Los Angeles Lakers players

Category:Oklahoma City Blue players

Category:Oklahoma City Thunder players

Category:People from College Station, Texas

Category:Point guards

Category:South Bay Lakers players

Category:Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball players

Category:Undrafted NBA players

Category:United States men's national basketball team players