Los Angeles Lakers: Comparing Alex Caruso to other title role players

Dec 18, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso (4) reacts against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason game at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso (4) reacts against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason game at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Unsung hero from the last two Showtime Los Angeles Lakers titles: A.C. Green

A.C. Green actually won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only did he win the last two titles of the Showtime era, but he also returned to the Lakers for the 1999-2000 season and won one more title as part of the three-peat Lakers.

When Caruso’s career is over he may have similar accolades to Green. Not only did Green have three championships, but he also was a one-time all-star and made the All-Defensive team once. Caruso may not ever be an all-star just because the league is so loaded, but I can definitely see him making the All-Defensive team.

Anyone that remembers Green knows that he is the definition of an Iron Man in the NBA — in fact, his nickname actually was Iron Man, and for good reason.

Green only played 79 games in his sophomore season with Miami Heat and that wound up being the only three games that he missed in his entire career. He finished his career with a 1,192 consecutive games streak.

Green’s defensive metrics actually were not that good in the playoffs in his two NBA title-winning seasons with the Showtime Lakers but he was a double-double machine, averaging a combined 13 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in those two playoffs. He had 10 double-doubles.