Lakers News: Two-Way Player Alex Caruso ‘Humbled’ To Be Starting Point Guard

Corey Hansford
3 Min Read
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

With injuries coming down on the Los Angeles Lakers’ first three point guard options in Lonzo Ball, Isaiah Thomas, and Brandon Ingram, Luke Walton has turned to two-way player Alex Caruso in the starting lineup.

This is a long ways away from where Caruso was last summer. An unknown player on the Lakers Summer League team, Caruso exploded onto the scene with an outstanding performance against De’Aaron Fox and the Kings, ultimately earning the Lakers’ first two-way contract.

He spent much of the season with the South Bay Lakers of the G League, but had also been the Lakers’ most reliable backup point guard option for most of the season. He’s likely to close it out as the team’s starter at the position.

Going from Summer League backup to current starter is a huge leap and humbling moment for Caruso. Yet it also makes him extremely excited for what lies ahead as he told Tania Ganguli of the L.A. Times:

“To see how far I’ve come in a year has just been really special,” Caruso said. “I’m really humbled to be in this position and just really excited for the future.”

What the future holds for Caruso will be interesting. He will undoubtedly be on the Lakers’ Summer League roster once again and should have another excellent opportunity to show his continued development.

Caruso is a good defender and reliable ball-handler who has gotten more aggressive offensively as of late, no doubt a product of his time in the G League. He is also sneaky athletic, and has had a couple of highlight dunks this season already.

Most importantly, however, he is steady and reliable, which is exactly what teams want in a backup. Whether he will be able to upgrade from his current two-way to a full NBA contract remains to be seen, but it says a lot about his development that Walton trusts him with the Lakers starters.

Caruso has reason to be excited about his future as he is showing that he is an NBA player.

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Corey Hansford is the Senior Editor for Lakers Nation, as well as a contributor for Dodger Blue, Rams News Wire, and Raiders News Wire. He is a passionate follower of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and the UFC. He can usually be seen arguing the merits of Kobe Bryant or cursing the decisions of Jerry Jones. He is also a former producer and associate producer for Sirius XM Sports Radio on both the Fantasy Sports Channel and College Sports Nation. Proud graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and The Real HU, Howard University, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow him on all social media outlets at @TheeCoreyH.
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