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Los Angeles Lakers backup guard Alex Caruso is, like the other NBA players, sitting at home as the league takes a hiatus during the current public-health crisis borne out of the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
Now, in an interview with Mike Trudell of Lakers.com, Caruso spoke at length about how the NBA suspension has impacted him and the team as a whole. He also highlighted why the turn of events that led to the stop of the NBA has been “frustrating” for the Purple and Gold franchise.
“Probably the most frustrating part is how much this season meant to us as players, coaches, organization and fans. With everything that’s gone on the past several years, and obviously the Kobe situation, everybody was really looking forward to finishing out the season and getting to the playoffs,” the Lakers fan-favorite shared.
“Now that it’s prolonged, it’s just frustrating. All of us on the team, our favorite thing to do is play basketball, and for that to be momentarily taken away puts things into perspective. It’s kind of an enlightening moment, just to not take it for granted. Whether you’re in your first full season like me, or 17th for LeBron.”
Alex Caruso added that while he understands that the safety and health of players, fans and members of the league are the priority, they still cannot sit back and forget their “ultimate goal” — which is obviously to win a championship. He also expressed his optimism that the 2019-20 campaign will resume and that the Lakers will be able to practice together once everybody is cleared of the coronavirus.
The Lakers had been enjoying a successful season in which they held the top spot in the Western Conference before the mid-March league-wide shutdown. The Purple and Gold have also failed to make the postseason since 2012-13, so the current campaign was setting up to be a triumphant return to old ways and a re-appearance in the playoffs for LeBron James and company.