Alex Caruso vs. Penny Hardaway Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Penny Hardaway and Alex Caruso, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Alex Caruso played 8 years in the NBA, 6 less than Penny Hardaway, who played 14. Alex Caruso had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, while Penny Hardaway had his rookie season in 1993-94. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achievements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Alex Caruso 8 4 2017-18 to 2024-25
Penny Hardaway 14 8 1993-94 to 2007-08

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Rookie Season

Alex Caruso Penny Hardaway
Season 2017-181993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 37 15.2 3.6 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.0 0.6 0.3 1.1 1.4 1.4 3.1 .431 0.4 1.2 .302 0.6 0.8 .700
difference:+45+21.6+12.4+1.9+1.6+3.6+4.6+1.7+0.3-2.5-1.1+4.8+10.2+.035+0.2+1.1+.035+2.4+3.2+.042
Penny Hardaway 82 36.8 16.0 2.3 3.0 5.4 6.6 2.3 0.6 3.6 2.5 6.2 13.3 .466 0.6 2.3 .267 3.0 4.0 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso DNP------ --- ----------
Penny Hardaway 3 44.3 18.7 2.7 4.0 6.7 7.0 1.7 2.0 6.7 3.3 7.3 16.7 .440 1.7 3.7 .455 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 2

Alex Caruso Penny Hardaway
Season 2018-191994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 25 21.2 9.2 0.8 1.9 2.7 3.1 1.0 0.4 1.7 2.2 3.1 6.9 .445 1.0 2.0 .480 2.0 2.6 .797
difference:+52+16.5+11.7+1.0+0.7+1.7+4.1+0.7+0.1-1.7-0.1+4.5+7.9+.067+0.1+1.2+.131+2.6+3.4+.028
Penny Hardaway 77 37.7 20.9 1.8 2.6 4.4 7.2 1.7 0.3 3.4 2.1 7.6 14.8 .512 1.1 3.2 .349 4.6 6.0 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso DNP------ --- ----------
Penny Hardaway 21 40.4 19.6 1.4 2.3 3.8 7.7 1.9 0.7 3.5 3.3 6.9 14.5 .472 1.9 4.7 .404 4.0 5.3 .757

Season 3

Alex Caruso Penny Hardaway
Season 2019-201995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMagic Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 64 18.4 5.5 0.3 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.1 0.3 0.8 1.5 1.9 4.5 .412 0.6 1.9 .333 1.1 1.5 .734
difference:+18+18.4+16.2+1.3+1.0+2.4+5.2+0.9+0.2-2.0-0.5+5.7+10.3+.101+0.5+1.6+.019+4.3+5.6+.033
Penny Hardaway 82 36.8 21.7 1.6 2.7 4.3 7.1 2.0 0.5 2.8 2.0 7.6 14.8 .513 1.1 3.5 .314 5.4 7.1 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 21 24.3 6.5 0.7 1.6 2.3 2.8 1.1 0.6 1.5 2.6 2.3 5.4 .425 0.8 2.9 .279 1.1 1.4 .800
difference:+9+15.1+16.8+1.0+1.4+2.4+3.2+0.6+0.3-0.7-0.3+6.1+12.7+.040+0.9+1.7+.085+3.7+5.1+.056
Penny Hardaway 12 39.4 23.3 1.7 3.0 4.7 6.0 1.7 0.3 2.2 2.3 8.4 18.1 .465 1.7 4.6 .364 4.8 6.5 .744

Season 4

Alex Caruso Penny Hardaway
Season 2020-211996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdMagic Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 58 21.0 6.4 0.5 2.4 2.9 2.8 1.1 0.3 1.3 1.9 2.3 5.3 .436 0.9 2.4 .401 0.8 1.3 .645
difference:+1+16.6+14.1+0.9+0.7+1.6+2.8+0.5+0.3-1.2-0.2+4.8+10.6+.011+0.5+2.1+.083+4.0+4.5+.175
Penny Hardaway 59 37.6 20.5 1.4 3.1 4.5 5.6 1.6 0.6 2.5 2.1 7.1 15.9 .447 1.4 4.5 .318 4.8 5.8 .820
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 6 20.2 5.8 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.5 0.2 0.7 1.2 2.0 2.3 6.3 .368 0.8 2.8 .294 0.3 0.3 1.000
difference:+1+24.2+25.2+1.1+3.6+4.7+2.9+2.2+0.7-0.6-0.8+8.1+15.9+.100+1.4+3.2+.073+7.7+10.5+.259
Penny Hardaway 5 44.4 31.0 1.4 4.6 6.0 3.4 2.4 1.4 1.8 2.8 10.4 22.2 .468 2.2 6.0 .367 8.0 10.8 .741

Season 5

Alex Caruso Penny Hardaway
Season 2021-221997-98
Team Chicago BullsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 41 28.0 7.4 0.8 2.8 3.6 4.0 1.7 0.4 1.4 2.6 2.5 6.2 .398 1.0 3.1 .333 1.4 1.8 .795
difference:+22+4.9+9.0+0.4+0.8+0.4+0.4+0.2+0.4-1.0-0.2+2.9+8.2+.021+0.2+0.5+.033+3.3+4.4+.032
Penny Hardaway 19 32.9 16.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 3.6 1.5 0.8 2.4 2.4 5.4 14.4 .377 0.8 2.6 .300 4.7 6.2 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 4 28.3 6.3 0.5 2.3 2.8 4.3 1.3 1.0 0.3 2.8 2.3 5.8 .391 1.8 4.5 .389 0.0 0.0 -
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Alex Caruso Penny Hardaway
Season 2022-231998-99
Team Chicago BullsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 67 23.5 5.6 0.6 2.3 2.9 2.9 1.5 0.7 1.1 2.4 1.9 4.3 .455 0.8 2.3 .364 0.9 1.1 .808
difference:+17+15.4+10.2+0.9+1.9+2.8+2.4+0.7+0.2-1.9-0.2+4.1+10.0+.035+0.5+.078+2.1+3.1+.102
Penny Hardaway 50 38.9 15.8 1.5 4.2 5.7 5.3 2.2 0.5 3.0 2.2 6.0 14.3 .420 0.8 2.8 .286 3.0 4.2 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso DNP------ --- ----------
Penny Hardaway 4 41.8 19.0 2.3 2.8 5.0 5.5 2.3 0.3 3.0 3.3 5.0 14.3 .351 1.5 3.3 .462 7.5 9.8 .769

Season 7

Alex Caruso Penny Hardaway
Season 2023-241999-00
Team Chicago BullsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 71 28.7 10.1 0.9 3.0 3.8 3.5 1.7 1.0 1.4 2.5 3.6 7.6 .468 1.9 4.7 .408 1.0 1.4 .760
difference:+11+8.9+6.8+0.6+1.3+2.0+1.8+0.1+0.4-1.2-0.2+2.7+5.7+.006+1.3+3.0+.084+2.8+3.4+.030
Penny Hardaway 60 37.6 16.9 1.5 4.3 5.8 5.3 1.6 0.6 2.6 2.7 6.3 13.3 .474 0.6 1.7 .324 3.8 4.8 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso DNP------ --- ----------
Penny Hardaway 9 42.8 20.3 1.6 3.3 4.9 5.7 1.6 1.0 2.8 3.2 7.4 16.1 .462 0.6 2.1 .263 4.9 6.9 .710

Season 8

Alex Caruso Penny Hardaway
Season 2024-252000-01
Team Oklahoma City ThunderPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 54 19.3 7.1 0.7 2.2 2.9 2.5 1.6 0.6 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.8 .446 1.1 3.1 .353 0.8 0.9 .824
difference:+50+8.7+2.7+0.6+1.1+1.6+1.3+0.1+0.3-0.1-0.4+1.2+3.2+.029+0.6+1.1+.103+1.0+1.9+.188
Penny Hardaway 4 28.0 9.8 1.3 3.3 4.5 3.8 1.5 0.3 0.8 1.5 3.8 9.0 .417 0.5 2.0 .250 1.8 2.8 .636
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 23 24.4 9.2 0.7 2.0 2.7 2.2 2.0 0.6 0.8 2.7 3.1 7.0 .450 1.6 3.9 .411 1.3 1.7 .795
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Penny Hardaway played 6 seasons more than Alex Caruso in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 14, from 2002 to 2008—Penny Hardaway played in two Playoffs.