Alex Caruso

“Hearing the national anthem with U.S.A. across your chest is something I never really imagined me being able to do.”

“I grew up with a religious background.”

“I'm just another one of the guys who happens to be really good at basketball and don't look like I should be.”

“That's something I realized when I was on the championship team: you need that chemistry, you need that trust, you need that reliability for each other when you get in close games. To be able to win close games because you know what the other guys are going to bring and how they're going to step up in crunch time.”

“I've always been I'd rather finish games than start games.”

“I just try and anticipate the play - whether it's a steal, rebound, assist or a shot.”

“My nature is to create for others and to be a positive influence on offense, moving the ball.”

“That's where winning comes from, that's where culture comes from. If you can push each other in practice to be competitive to try to win to be better, that's ultimately what you want.”

“Every team's got talent.”

“Playing with LeBron, that's something I'll never take for granted.”

“I've never been stat-chaser or someone who wants accolades.”

“For me, I'm just trying to see how long I can play basketball for and a lot of that has to do with how hard you're willing to work.”

“It's been a fun journey with L.A. I came here on a two-way contract and spent my first two years on two-way deals and Lakers fans have gone through this journey with me and for them to accept me as part of the Lakers family is so special.”

“Texas and Florida - they can kind of be their own countries at times. Some people just like to do their own thing.”

“That's basketball, that's the NBA; it's a physical sport.”

“I've been playing my whole life, I love the game, so I try not to think about being in the NBA or playing in Staples. I just play.”

“Every time I've gotten an opportunity in my career, I've kinda rose to the occasion, and there's something in me, that competitive spirit, that just desire to be great, the desire to do everything right that just kinda rises to the occasion given the opportunity.”

“It's been the story of my career. No matter what level I'm at, the more time I have on the court, the better I've gotten.”

“I compete at a high level.”

“I like to play basketball.”