Lakers pay tribute to Alex Caruso in his return to Staples Center with the Bulls

The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed Alex Caruso back to Staples Center with the Chicago Bulls, honoring him with a tribute video.

Alex Caruso didn’t get a new contract from the Lakers, but he did get a warm welcome when he made his first trip back to Staples Center to take on his old team.

Now playing for the Bulls, Caruso sat on the opposing bench as a video of his highlights from Los Angeles played on the big screen.

The Lakers put together a tribute video for Alex Caruso

The video proved how important Caruso was to the team as they battled for the ultimate prize.

He also shared a moment with LeBron James, who was out injured.

https://twitter.com/_Talkin_NBA/status/1460455880521138177?s=20

Caruso came up with the Lakers through the G-League, working his way onto the NBA roster via a two-way contract. It wasn’t long before he was a fan favorite with nicknames like the “bald mamba.”

He turned himself into a key contributor, averaging 6.4 points per game during their championship run in 2020, even starting in the NBA Finals.

Despite his championship contribution, he entered free agency after the 2020-21 season with questions about whether the Lakers would pony up to keep him around.

In the end, Caruso signed a four-year deal with the Bulls for $37 million.

So far with Chicago, Caruso is averaging 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists while coming off the bench for the most part. He got the start against the Lakers on Monday night.