NEWSLETTER
Alex Caruso has wasted no time becoming a fan favorite in Chicago, and his latest words are part of the reason why.
In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, Caruso expressed just how happy he was to wear red, specifically praising his new city’s fan base:
“The fans in general, they’re good sports fans,” Caruso said. “Chicago citizens they understand the game. They understand football, basketball, they know what a good play is, what a bad play is. There were a couple of games this year where we got booed because we played like sh*t, and I was like, ‘yeah, that’s pretty fitting, I would boo, too.
…
I love playing in Chicago. I love Billy Donovan. I love the front office. I love our team. We have great guys.”
Well, my heart sure feels all warm and fuzzy!
When the organization’s front office handed Caruso a four-year deal worth $37 million this past offseason, it caught everyone off guard. Not only was Caruso never linked to the Bulls as a possible free-agent target, but he was coming off a run with the Lakers where he quickly established himself to be one of the best defenders in the game.
Despite some unfortunate injury trouble that held him to just 41 appearances, he continued to prove he was an elite defensive anchor. Caruso finished tied for 5th in steals per game (1.7) and recorded a defensive estimated plus-minus that ranked in the league’s 94th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass.
An opportunity in Chicago also led to a lot more playing time for the on-ball pest. Caruso’s 28 minutes per game comfortably topped his previous career-high of 21 minutes the year before, and his 18 starts also happened to be his most in a single season. So while a more important role could be part of the reason why Caruso has fallen in love with his new home, I think it’s also abundantly clear he’s feeling the appreciation from fans and members of the organization alike (and this isn’t the first time he’s expressed that).
Caruso also went on to talk a little bit more about the (*dark clouds fill the sky and lightning strikes*) Grayson Allen incident. There was once confusion about whether or not Allen reached out to Caruso, but the man himself has now clarified that Allen did try to offer an apology later in the regular season. He went on to say he planned to speak with Allen after the Bulls-Bucks first-round series, however, his absence from Game 5 with a concussion ended up keeping that conversation from happening.
“I’ll just talk to him and be like, hey bro, I’m not going to forgive you for it, but I don’t wish bad upon the man … I hate seeing guys get injured. I want guys to be able to be healthy, play basketball, earn their money, do whatever they got to do,” Caruso said.
The veteran guard suggested he plans to reach back out to clear the air.
Anyway, you can catch that clip (and a few more from his interview) below:
"It was just a bad play & I don't wish bad upon Grayson Allen" ~@ACFresh21#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/WIaPb3jUU0
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1534973478717247514?s=20&t=h-sTa32uvm0zXQjfYancMg
"I really didn't know I was gonna make it in the NBA until I signed my contract" ~@ACFresh21#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/tK7OE52AUc
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 9, 2022
