Almоst every basketball fan whо watched his team play the Chicagо Bulls this seasоn said, “We need a guy like Alex Carusо.” Except fоr the Lakers’ legiоn оf fans, whо secretly berated GM Rоb Pelinka fоr trading Carusо.

Caruso was named the NBA Hustle Award winner for 2023–24 for all of his tiny efforts. This is the first time the Bulls guard has won the trophy.

For the Hustle Award, the league’s best performer in the non-traditional hustle statistics (such as box-outs, deflections, screens assisted, charges drawn, and loose balls recovered) is honored.

With an average of 3.7 deflections per game, Caruso ranked first in the league and tied for fourth in thefts per game, demonstrating his disruptive defensive skills. Additionally, he was ninth in the league for charges drawn and rated high in loose balls retrieved, with one per game.

Scottie Barnes of the Raptors came in at number two in the NBA standings, while youngster Brandin Podziemski of the Warriors took third. The top five were completed by Hornets’ Grant Williams and Thunder’s Lugeuntz Dort.

Marcus Smart (triumphal), Patrick Beverley, and Montrezl Harrell are among the previous recipients.

The NBA Hustle Award goes to Alex Caruso of the Bulls

The Chicago Bulls’ defensive anchor giving his life for the cause is one of the few certainties in life.

In recognition of his efforts, Caruso was awarded the 2023–24 NBA Hustle Award winner by the league on Thursday.

Being named to the first team All-Defense last season, Caruso joins Thaddeus Young from the 2020-21 season as the second Bull to receive the award. Caruso ended Marcus Smart’s two-year reign as recipient of the trophy, which has been presented annually since the 2016–17 campaign to recognize “players who make the effort plays that don’t often appear in the traditional box score but impact winning.”

The way Caruso thinks and plays is a wonderful match for that award description.