Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso came out of nowhere for a putback slam over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night. LeBron James, who was chilling on the bench, was forced to rise up from his seat.
Per NBA on TNT, watch Alex Caruso deliver his shocking putback slam. Notice how the Lakers' bench rose up in unison. LeBron James, in particular, couldn't believe what he just witnessed.
ALEX CARUSO HAD LEBRON SHOOK 😱#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/SMCULdlfcp
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 5, 2019
Caruso, the undrafted guard out of Texas A&M, has been receiving ample playing time of late. He's under a two-way contract for the Lakers and their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. Due to the injury plague which has hit the Purple and Gold, Lakers head coach Luke Walton had no other choice but to play the 25-year-old.
He has delivered when pressed into extended service, all while LeBron James has been shut down for the rest of the season. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, Alex Caruso had 15 points, seven assists, and two steals. He was 5 of 9 from the field and made his only 3-point attempt of the night. In the Lakers' previous game, a win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Caruso notched a career-high 23 points, along with six assists and four steals. He was 7 of 11 from the field and a perfect 4 of 4 from the 3-point line.
Given Caruso's rather unassuming look and demeanor, James' reaction to his teammate's putback slam is understandable. Given Caruso's performance of late, we can safely say that the guy can ball. When being given an opportunity to produce in the latter stages of the NBA season, Caruso — auditioning both for the Lakers and for other NBA teams which might want to to bring him aboard next season — is leaving a favorable impression and giving his NBA career a chance to last a little longer.
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