It's not out of the realm of possibility that Alex can make an NBA roster. He was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year because he's considered an elite perimeter defender which is a rarity in the NBA. The Lakers have been terrible on the defensive end for the past few years and I could see Alex make a name for himself by controlling the game with his motor alone.
But don't take my word for it.... here's a write up of the D-League DPOY finalist:
Quote:
Throughout the season, most of the attention around the OKC Blue has been centered around potential NBA D-League MVP Dakari Johnson. However, rookie guard Alex Caruso has stood as the heart and soul of an elite D-League squad by averaging 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.1 steals on 46% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc in 3 perimeter attempts per game. While most people would focus on those great facilitating or perimeter shooting numbers, Caruso's biggest impact comes from his work as an elite perimeter defender.
His status as a great perimeter defender is shown by him averaging 2.1 steals per game, which stands out as one of the highest averages in the D-League. As those numbers might tell you, Caruso has shined as a tenacious on-ball defender that constantly looks to pick the pockets of his opposing guard. Caruso's defensive aggression has earned the respect of everyone on the OKC Blue which includes the aforementioned Dakari Johnson."he's really been best our defender as he gets over screens and is always in the right position in help defense," Johnson told Ridiculous Upside. "Caruso's also very vocal on the defensive end".
By now you should know that Alex doesn't back down from anyone and he will fight you tooth and nail for the ball and is exhibiting the same leadership characteristics that made him an underrated SEC player.
It's a tough climb there's no doubt, but if there's anyone that can make that climb, it's Caruso.
