2025-26 Season
ALEX CARUSO
2025-26 Season
ALEX CARUSO
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 16 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 245 Guards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Extreme pendulum swings between elite defensive havoc and crippling offensive invisibility defined Alex Caruso's early-season stretch. When his motor runs hot, he is a terrifying weapon who dictates the flow of a game without needing to score. Look no further than the 12/17 vs LAC matchup, where he managed just 4 points but posted a staggering +10.4 impact score by wreaking absolute havoc as an off-ball disruptor. Conversely, his offensive passivity can actively sabotage the team's half-court rhythm. On 11/28 vs PHX, passing up open looks severely handicapped the offense, dragging his impact score into the gutter at -6.8 despite grabbing 7 rebounds. Even worse are the nights where he shoots his team out of the game entirely. During the 12/25 vs SAS contest, Caruso scored a stretch-high 12 points but still earned a miserable -4.1 impact score because a brutal 2-for-12 barrage of missed perimeter attempts completely tanked his overall value. He is a defensive savant, but he must stop hijacking possessions with erratic shot selection to remain a reliable rotational piece.
Extreme volatility defined Alex Caruso's midseason stint, swinging wildly between defensive mastery and offensive sabotage off the bench. Even when his jumper abandoned him, his relentless motor often salvaged his minutes. During the 01/15 vs HOU matchup, he managed just 5 points on ugly 2-for-7 shooting, yet generated a +3.2 impact score entirely through elite point-of-attack defense and constant disruptive energy. Conversely, raw scoring totals occasionally masked his on-court detriment. Look at the 02/27 vs DEN contest, where a seemingly solid 12-point outing was dragged down to a -3.7 impact because a slew of unforced passing errors actively gifted the opponent points. When he actually married smart decision-making with hot shooting, he was untouchable. He torched the nets on 02/09 vs LAL, dropping 17 points on 7-of-8 from the field to post a staggering +9.1 impact score. He remains the ultimate wild card, capable of winning a shift purely through hustle or sinking it with careless mistakes.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Boom-or-bust player. Caruso's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~4 points per game.
Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 47% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Defensive difference-maker. Caruso consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
In a rough stretch — 10 straight games with negative impact. Longest cold streak this season: 10 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 59 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
56 games played
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