Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shared heartfelt praise for former teammate Alex Caruso during a recent episode of his Mind the Game podcast.
The comments came after a four-game playoff series between James' Lakers and Caruso's Oklahoma City Thunder.
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James lamented losing the defensive standout, emphasizing Caruso's basketball intelligence and competitive drive.
"I miss [Alex Caruso] every single day, every single day. To be able to compete against him, in a playoff series, it's everything," James said.
He described Caruso as a player who will get underneath you, grab you, hold you, and compete at a professional level.
"AC's not gonna beat himself; you have to play that chess game with AC, understanding where he is on the floor," James added.
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Caruso's Championship Pedigree
Caruso helped the Lakers win an NBA Championship in 2020 before departing as a free agent in 2021.
The Lakers front office declined to match the market value Caruso commanded, leading him to sign a larger contract with the Chicago Bulls.
He later joined the Oklahoma City Thunder and won another championship with the team.
The Thunder currently lead the San Antonio Spurs two games to one in the Western Conference finals as they attempt to repeat as NBA champions.
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James expressed deep regret over the Lakers losing Caruso, who is now a key player in the Thunder's playoff run.
