The Los Angeles Lakers are defending their NBA title this season. However, to successfully achieve their goal, they can’t rely on just one or two players. The whole team will need to work as a unit and give their 100%.

Speaking of giving their 100% each night, there is one player that pops up in mind – Alex Caruso. Over the last two seasons, Caruso has honed his skills as a player and solidified his position on the Lakers roster.

Caruso’s work ethic is off the charts, and he is a crucial piece for the purple and gold. His work on the defensive end of the floor is pretty important for LA, and every team needs a player like him if they want to clinch the NBA title.

Lakers’ head coach Frank Vogel talks about Alex Caruso

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel talked about Alex Caruso in a recent interview. In fact, when he first saw him, he instantly compared him to another NBA star. Vogel said:

“When I was watching our pickup games from last season as we built up to training camp, he was just all over the place with his defensive ability. His defensive instincts and athleticism really reminded me of when I used to coach Paul George. I started talking to my coaching staff like, Am I crazy with what I’m seeing here?”

Back during his stint with the Indiana Pacers, Paul George was on a different level. However, since the gruesome leg injury, PG13 has somewhat changed his skill set. Regardless, he is still a sensational player for the LA Clippers, who are the Lakers’ noisy neighbors.

While George can score the ball at will, his defense is something that makes him stand out from the rest. Like Vogel said, Caruso has a tremendous work ethic like George and can take up tough defensive assignments for his team.

But can Caruso and the purple and gold defend their NBA Championship this season? Well, they are off to a great start, to say the least.