For the first time since suffering a fractured right wrist on Jan. 21, Alex Caruso participated fully in a Chicago Bulls practice on Friday and the guard didn’t rule out playing on Saturday against the Cavaliers.
“We’re close,” Caruso said at the Advocate Center.
Caruso, so vital to the Bulls’ identity and defensive acumen, first took contact in workout sessions with player developmental coaches this week. Participating in a full practice marked the next step in his progression, one that hasn’t featured any setbacks to this point.
“We haven’t talked about specific target yet,” Caruso said. “I think we’re just trying to take it day-by-day to make sure it passes each test. Wake up (Saturday), hopefully no soreness that will hold me back and go from there.
“I think we have to continue to check the boxes, make sure that it’s functional and if I get hit, it’s not going to be bad — if I fall, little things like that. But as far as shooting and passing and dribbling, I’m good with all that stuff.
“I’m good to go with anything. Doctors said I’m not going to re-break it or anything. Bone is fully healed. Screws are in there holding everything together. The only soreness, kind of anything in the way, is just soft tissue stuff that’s just working its way back from the surgery.”
The Bulls went 12-10 without Caruso.
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“Longest absence of my career. I tried to stay in a good mind frame of competing against myself, going through my workouts. Unfortunately, I had Pat (Williams) and Zo (Lonzo Ball) there alongside of me — Pat more so,” Caruso said lightheartedly. “Just tried to keep my mindset on thinking about what I’m doing it for, not what I’m doing. Because it’s not fun just running and sliding and doing the bike but it’s necessary for you to come back and play.”
Caruso was a vocal and active participant on the bench throughout his absence, often seen pulling teammates aside during timeouts.
“I want to win games. I want to win games when I’m playing. I want to win games when I’m not playing. I can’t just show up and sit there. It’s part of my DNA. If there’s a game going on and I think there’s something important to be said that’s going to help us win, I’m going to say it,” Caruso said. “And luckily, I got good teammates, willing coaches, guys in Ayo (Dosunmu) and Coby (White) who are interested in learning and interested in figuring out the way to win and how to play.
“There are obviously times where I’m sure they didn’t want to hear my voice, but I still said stuff anyway. Glad to be back on the performing side rather than the coaching side.”