NBA Rumors: Lakers Reserve Guard Won’t Try Luck In Dunk-Off, Opts To Play Golf Instead

Alex Caruso of the Los Angeles Lakers can dunk, but the 27-year-old reserve guard knows his limits.

Though he admits that he has the knack for dunking the ball during games, he feels that joining the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk contest may not be suited for him.

Hence, all hope of seeing the Texas native joining the NBA Slam Dunk Contest this weekend has been snuffed. Rather than compete with a different breed of high-flyers, Caruso will use the short break to do something else.

"I'll probably just play some golf with some buddies and leave it at that," Caruso said when he spoke to Bill Oram of The Athletic.

Caruso has established himself as one of the NBA’s crowd favorites, and his name has been suggested in the dunk contest on several occasions.

Though he can jam the ball in the rim, the 6-foot-4 player is aware that his skill set may not be fit for the competition, the New York Times reported.

“That’s like a different breed of dunker," Caruso said. "I’m a good in-game dunker—fast breaks, tip dunks, stuff like that. But I don’t have the off-the-bounce, between-the-legs dunks."

Taking place on Feb. 13 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, this year’s list of participants includes Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks, Anfernee Simmons of the Portland Trail Blazers and Cassius Stanley of the Pacers.

Compared to previous years, there will be some changes from past NBA All-Star weekends. The events will be hosted on the same day as the All-Star game, with the Slam Dunk contest happening at the half-time offering of the exhibition match.

The Skills Competition and the Three-Point Shootout will also be held on the same day but before the All-Star Game tip-off.