Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso is the 2023-24 NBA Hustle Award recipient. This is Caruso’s first time winning the award. According to RealGM, “the NBA Hustle Award honors a player who makes the effort plays that do not often appear in the traditional box score but help determine team success. Hustle statistics include deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots and box-outs.” The previous winner was Marcus Smart, then of the Boston Celtics, who won it in 2022 and 2023.
Caruso is the second Bulls player to win the award since its introduction. Furthermore, he is the first Bulls player to earn the honor since Thaddeus Young did in 2021.
The winner of the 2023-24 NBA Hustle Award is… Alex Caruso! #NBAAwards
The award honors a player who makes impactful effort plays that might not appear in the box score. pic.twitter.com/XyV3qzEtik
— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2024
Since joining the league in 2017, Caruso built a reputation as one of the league’s most tenacious defenders. During the regular season, the one-time NBA champion averaged 1.7 steals and 1 block per game. Additionally, Caruso ranked first in deflections per game (3.7), fifth in loose balls recovered per game (1), and seventh in charges drawn per game (0.17).
The NBA has not announced their All-Defensive Team selections yet. However, it seems likely Caruso will earn the nod. Last season, the Texas native was a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time in his career.
2023-24 NBA Hustle Award Winner Announced
Alex Caruso’s Impact on the Chicago Bulls
During the season, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan praised Caruso, calling him “one of the most valuable players in the NBA.”
“I think Alex Caruso is one of the most valuable players in the NBA. I think you need to get a haul for him. Those players like DeMar DeRozan, like Alex Caruso just don’t grow on trees.”
Additionally, Bulls star DeMar DeRozan publicly campaigned for Caruso to be selected for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.
“All-Star 2024, Indiana,” DeRozan repeated. “That’s the pitch right there. He’s (Caruso) everything. Every team would love a guy like Alex Caruso, the things he brings, the excitement. Alex Caruso is a guy who can play on every single team in the NBA. The crowds love him, the intensity and excitement he brings, the competitor he is on both ends of the floor is amazing.”
During the regular season, Caruso had a career year. The former Los Angeles Lakers guard appeared in 71 games, starting 57 of them, and averaged 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Additionally, he shot 46,8% from the field and 40.8% from beyond the arc. All of these numbers were career-highs for Caruso.
The Last Word on Alex Caruso
Caruso has developed into one of the peskiest defenders in the NBA. Because of this, it is easy to see why he received this year’s NBA Hustle Award. Caruso is an essential player on the Bulls’ roster. However, he has just one year remaining on his contract. His status this summer will be worth monitoring to see if he and the Bulls can reach an agreement on a contract extension.
