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Chicago's Alex Caruso wins 2023-24 NBA Hustle Award

Published May 3, 2024, 11:04 AMNBA.com Philippines Staff
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Opposing players shot below their normal average from every measurable distance when being defended by Alex Caruso.

Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso has been named the winner of the 2023-24 NBA Hustle Award. Caruso, a 2022-23 Kia NBA All-Defensive First Team selection, has won the NBA Hustle Award for the first time. 



Presented annually since the 2016-17 season, the NBA Hustle Award honors a player who makes the effort plays that do not often appear in the traditional box score but help determine team success. Hustle statistics include deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots and box-outs.

In the 2023-24 regular season, Caruso led the NBA in deflections per game (3.7) and finished second in total deflections (265). He also ranked seventh in the league in both total loose balls recovered (73) and total contested three-point field goal attempts (221). Caruso drew 12 charges, making him one of 18 players to reach or surpass that total.

Alex Caruso’s Hustle Stats and Rankings

 Category  Per Game  Rank  Per Minute  Rank
 Deflections
 3.7 1st 0.1299 1st
 Loose Balls Recovered  1.0 5th 0.0358 1st
 Charges Drawn 0.17 7th 0.0059 7th
 Contested Shots 5.0 60th 0.1750 51st
 Screen Assists 0.5 61st 0.0186 58th
 Box Outs 0.4 89th 0.0142 88th


Caruso, who finished fourth in the league in steals (1.7 per game), led all players in deflections (3.7 per game), which disrupt the flow of the opposing team’s offense even if it does not lead directly to a steal or turnover.

Opposing players shot below their normal average from every measurable distance when being defended by Caruso: down 2.4% overall, down 1.3% from 3-point range and down 5.6% from inside six feet.

When he was on the court, Chicago posted a defensive rating of 110.6, which matches the second-best defense in the league. When he was off the court, Chicago’s defensive rating dropped to 117, which would rank 24th.

2023-24 Hustle Award Top Five Finishers

Finish  Player  Team  Position 
 1 Alex Caruso  Chicago  Guard
 2 Scottie Barnes  Toronto Forward/Guard 
 3 Brandin Podziemski  Golden State  Guard
 4 Luguentz Dort Oklahoma City  Guard
 5 Grant Williams Charlotte Forward