Numbers usually tell the story in the NBA, but they kinda lie when it comes to Alex Caruso. If you just look at a box score, you might see 6 points and a couple of assists and think, "What’s the big deal?" You'd be wrong. Dead wrong. Alex Caruso is the ultimate "if you know, you know" player, especially when the lights get bright in April, May, and June.
He isn't a superstar. He’s a ceiling raiser.
The thing about Alex Caruso playoff stats is that they reflect a player who literally changes the geometry of the court. Whether he was chasing Tyler Herro through a maze of screens in the 2020 Bubble or harassing elite guards for the Thunder in 2025, the impact is visceral. He’s the guy who dives for a loose ball when his team is up ten. He's the guy who knows exactly when to cut to the rim because he saw a defender turn their head for a split second.
The Resume: Championships and Chaos
Caruso isn't just a role player with a cool nickname; he's a two-time NBA Champion. Most people remember the 2020 run with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a vital cog in that machine. But honestly, his 2025 run with the Oklahoma City Thunder proved that the "Caruso Effect" isn't a fluke or a byproduct of playing with LeBron James.
Let’s look at the raw production across his career postseason appearances:
Career Playoff Averages (as of 2026):
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- Games Played: 54
- Minutes Per Game: 24.2
- Points: 7.6
- Steals: 1.4
- Field Goal %: 42.8%
- Three-Point %: 35.5%
These aren't eye-popping. But when you dig into the specific games, you see why coaches treat him like a starter even when he's coming off the bench. In the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Caruso did something literally no one in the history of the league had done before. He recorded two 20-point games in the Finals after having zero 20-point games in the regular season. Talk about rising to the occasion.
The Defensive Masterclass
You can’t talk about Caruso without talking about the "stocks"—steals and blocks. In the 2025 postseason, he went on a tear that saw him surpass a legend. By recording 42 steals in a single playoff run, he moved past Manu Ginobili for the most steals off the bench in a single postseason since the stat started being tracked in 1973.
He’s a defensive savant. Basically, he sees the play happening before the offensive player does.
During his tenure with the Bulls, he didn't get many playoff reps, but his 2022 series against Milwaukee showed the blueprint. He averaged 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in that short four-game stint, starting every game. He was the only person on the floor who looked like they could even remotely slow down the Bucks' perimeter attack.
Breaking Down the 2020 Lakers Run
The 2020 run was where the legend of the Bald Mamba actually became a statistical reality. In 21 games, he averaged 6.5 points and nearly 3 assists. More importantly, he finished that postseason with a +112 total plus-minus. That’s absurd for a guy playing 24 minutes a night.
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Frank Vogel trusted him so much that Caruso actually started Game 6 of the NBA Finals. He replaced Dwight Howard in the starting lineup to provide more speed and spacing. The Lakers blew the Heat out. It wasn't a coincidence.
Beyond the Box Score: Impact Metrics
If you want to understand why his Alex Caruso playoff stats are so highly regarded by front offices, you have to look at the advanced numbers.
- Defensive Box Plus-Minus (DBPM): He consistently ranks in the 90th percentile among guards.
- Defensive Win Shares: In the 2025 run alone, he contributed 1.2 defensive win shares, a massive number for a non-center.
- Deflection King: He leads the league (or is close to it) in deflections per 36 minutes every single year.
Caruso's value is in the "garbage" plays. The deflections that don't become steals but reset the shot clock. The verticality at the rim that forces a miss without him getting a block. These are the things that win playoff series.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception? That he's just a "hustle guy."
Calling Caruso a hustle player is sorta insulting. It implies he isn't skilled. The man shot 41.1% from three-point range during the 2025 playoffs. He’s a high-IQ playmaker who rarely makes the wrong pass. He’s a legitimate two-way threat who happens to also play harder than everyone else.
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People also think he's too small to guard wings. Ask the Timberwolves players he guarded in the 2025 Western Conference Finals. He uses his chest, his lateral quickness, and a freakish 6'5" frame to make life miserable for guys much bigger than him.
Practical Takeaways for Basketball Fans
If you're tracking Caruso's impact in future playoff runs or just trying to win your fantasy league, keep these specific things in mind:
- Watch the Plus-Minus: Caruso often has the highest +/- on the team even on nights where he scores 4 points.
- Look at the Fourth Quarter Minutes: If he’s on the floor in the final five minutes, his coach trusts him more than the "star" he might be replacing.
- The "Caruso Run": Notice how often a 10-0 run starts with a Caruso deflection or a smart secondary assist.
- Availability Matters: He plays a physical style that leads to injuries, so his value is highest when he's had a managed workload leading into the postseason.
The reality is that Alex Caruso is the player every championship team needs but few are lucky enough to have. He’s the connective tissue. He doesn't need the ball, but the ball always seems to find him when something good is about to happen.
To see how his game evolves, keep an eye on his shooting splits. As long as he stays above 36% from deep, he is arguably the most valuable non-All-Star in the NBA. His playoff history isn't just a collection of stats; it's a blueprint for how to win at the highest level without being the primary option.
Check the latest game logs to see if he's maintaining that high-level defensive efficiency as he moves deeper into his 30s.