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Aggies in the NBA: Alex Caruso Named to All-Defensive First Team

A second season in Chicago brought former Aggie Alex Caruso plenty of new opportunities, but the guard shined most on defense, and was recently recognized league-wide for his strong presence.

Matt Guzman

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When the "Bald Eagle" — former Texas A&M Aggies guard Alex Caruso — landed in Aggieland, nobody expected him to impact the Aggies' basketball program the way he did. 

Caruso finished as an all-time player for the Aggies, playing a big role in their 2016 sweet sixteen bid and more during his four seasons. Now, the guard has left his mark in the NBA, being named to the NBA's First Team All-Defense. 

Caruso joins Cleveland's Evan Mobley, Memphis' Jaren Jackson Jr. — the league's Defensive Player of the Year — and Milwaukee's Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday on the list of top defenders this season.

At Texas A&M, the guard brought energy to the court, but also playmaking. Though his point totals steadied around nine, his assist totals and his defense told the story of his game. 

By the end of his time with the Aggies, Caruso held the all-time record for assists and steals in program history, and it only continued in the NBA, where the guard has been tasked with guarding some of the top scorers around the league.

“I don’t know if [the All-Defense distinction] matters," Caruso said earlier in the season. "Just because in my head, I know I’m one of the best defenders in the league."

"I’m guarding the best players night in and night out, and I feel like I have, for the majority, the respect from the guys I play against," he added. They know that, whether they want to admit it or not, it’s a tough assignment and I’m going to make them work."

Caruso quickly became a fan favorite when he signed with the Los Angles Lakers as a rookie in 2017. He was often praised for his athleticism and hustle, but his defense was noticeable right away, which gained him high praise from superstar forward LeBron James. 

"Caruso is the true definition of when opportunity meets preparation," James said after the Lakers' 2020 Western Conference Finals victory over the Denver Nuggets. "He's been preparing for [a moment] like this ... and has taken full strides and gotten better every single minute he's on the floor."

In his four years with the Lakers, Caruso averaged 6.2 points, 2.5 assists and a steal, while helping his team to a championship in veteran center Anthony Davis' first year with the team.

Since then, Caruso has played two seasons with the Chicago Bulls, and though they haven't made it out of the East, his hustle on defense has only continued to set the tone for Chicago. And he's not done yet. 

"My teammates believe in me," Caruso said after the season. "They kind of almost encourage me to be more aggressive sometimes, so I think just having ... the faith of my teammates and coaches really goes a long way, [and] I’m gonna go back to the same mentality I had this year, [to] be ready to take on whatever role that comes my way next season."

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Matt Guzman
MATT GUZMAN

Matt Guzman is a sports journalist and storyteller from Austin, Texas. He serves as a credentialed reporter and site manager for San Antonio Spurs On SI and a staff writer for multiple collegiate sites in the same network. In the world of professional sports, he is a firm believer that athletes are people, too, and intends to tell stories of players and teams’ true, behind-the-scenes character that otherwise would not be seen through strong narrative writing, hooking ledes and passionate words.

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