Alex Caruso opens up on lessons he learned from LeBron James
Alex Caruso learned a lot from LeBron James when they were teammates with the LA Lakers. Caruso is ready to use these things in his second season with the Chicago Bulls. He's expected to play a bigger role for the Bulls while Lonzo Ball recovers from a knee injury.
In an interview with K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, Caruso discussed a variety of topics like James, the Lakers and the Bulls. The 28-year-old guard opened up about his relationship with "The King."
Caruso explained that James helped him be a confident player. That confidence made him one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. He just needed to have that extra work ethic in the gym and the right way to take care of his body.
"He helped me reach new levels of my game that I maybe didn't have the confidence to reach at a certain point in my career," Caruso said. "He enabled me to get on the court because we had such good chemistry. I was able to play off him and understand the game.
"I learned so much just from watching him. Work ethic, getting in the gym, working on your body, making sure you recover, putting the work in pre-practice. He shows up and plays every night. He's out there as the best player. No. 1 on the scouting report, and he's going hard."
To read K.C. Johnson's full interview with Alex Caruso, click here.
Alex Caruso has one of the best feel-good stories in the NBA. He went undrafted in 2016 and spent the 2016-17 season in the G League. He was signed to a 2-way contract by the LA Lakers in 2017 and became an important part of the team.
Caruso was a key player in the Lakers' 2020 NBA championship inside the bubble. LeBron James and Anthony Davis carried the team, but Caruso played a very important role. The Lakers felt his absence last season when they had one of the worst perimeter defenses in the NBA.
Report: LeBron James wanted LA Lakers to re-sign Alex Caruso last year
The LA Lakers low-balled Alex Caruso last year in free agency when they offered him a two-year, $15 million due to luxury tax concerns. Caruso went on to sign a more lucrative deal with the Chicago Bulls believed to be worth around $37 million for four years.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, LeBron James wanted the Lakers to bring back Caruso last year. Stein pointed out in one of his Substack pieces last season that James was a huge fan of Caruso. However, the Lakers were more worried about paying the luxury tax than competing for a championship.
"LeBron James was a strong advocate for the trade that brought (Russell) Westbrook to Hollywood," Stein wrote. "And thus has to wear his considerable slice of culpability for how poorly things are working out.
"Yet one source did point out at least one counter on James' behalf, noting that he was also one of the organization's staunchest Alex Caruso fans and badly wanted the Lakers to re-sign the defensive-minded guard."