Chicago Bulls: 5 players who have exceeded preseason expectations

Chicago Bulls players who have exceeded preseason expectations: Alex Caruso

Already emerging onto the scene as a fan favorite, it didn’t take long for Alex Caruso to endear himself to the fans of Chicago. In the same vein as Ryan Arcidiacono before him, Caruso proves his worth to the team by being a source of high-energy hustle plays.

Unlike his predecessor, however, Caruso is a legitimate NBA talent. Averaging an Eastern Conference-best 2.4 steals per game, his ball-hawking ability has been essential for this Chicago Bulls team that was anticipated to struggle on the defensive side of things.

While he only sees the court for 29 minutes per night, Caruso is also second in the NBA in deflections with 4.3 per game. These numbers only offer a glimpse into the frenetic force that Caruso is in the Bulls’ defensive schemes.

As of November 19, the Bulls hold the 7th best defensive rating in the NBA, an achievement that simply would not be possible without Caruso. His presence has allowed Chicago to be much more flexible in their decision by running three-guard lineups and contesting the perimeter with a group of players that are capable of fighting through screens.

His shots haven’t been falling yet — currently hitting 28.9 percent from deep — but as a career average 37.7 percent shooter, it’s likely he improves closer to the mean on a Chicago team loaded with shooters. Caruso’s playmaking has also been stellar thus far, another big reason as to why the former G-League standout has found such a big role with these Bulls.