Alex Caruso vs. Shaquille O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shaquille O'Neal 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, 11 less than Shaquille O'Neal, who played 19. Alex Caruso had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, while Shaquille O'Neal had his rookie season in 1992-93. 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
Shaquille O'Neal 19 17 1992-93 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season
Alex Caruso Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2017-181992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
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:+44+22.7+19.8+3.8+8.2+12.1+0.1+0.1+3.2-2.7-2.6+7.6+13.0+.131+0.4+1.2+4.7+8.1+.108
Shaquille O'Neal 81 37.9 23.4 4.2 9.6 13.9 1.9 0.7 3.5 3.8 4.0 9.0 16.1 .562 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 8.9 .592
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Alex Caruso nor Shaquille O'Neal played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2
Alex Caruso Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2018-191993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+56+18.6+20.1+3.9+6.6+10.5+0.7+0.1+2.5-1.0-1.3+8.7+12.7+.154+1.0+2.0+3.8+7.9+.243
Shaquille O'Neal 81 39.8 29.3 4.7 8.5 13.2 2.4 0.9 2.9 2.7 3.5 11.8 19.6 .599 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 10.5 .554
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso DNP------ --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 3 42.0 20.7 5.7 7.7 13.3 2.3 0.7 3.0 3.3 4.3 7.7 15.0 .511 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 11.3 .471

Season 3
Alex Caruso Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2019-201994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMagic Lost NBA 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:+15+18.6+23.8+3.9+5.6+9.5+0.8+0.2+2.1-1.8-1.8+9.9+15.7+.171+0.6+1.8+.333+4.7+9.3+.201
Shaquille O'Neal 79 37.0 29.3 4.2 7.3 11.4 2.7 0.9 2.4 2.6 3.3 11.8 20.2 .583 0.0 0.1 .000 5.8 10.8 .533
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:+14.0+19.2+3.8+5.8+9.6+0.5+0.2+1.3-2.0-1.4+7.0+10.7+.152+0.8+2.9+6.0+11.0+.229
Shaquille O'Neal 21 38.3 25.7 4.5 7.4 11.9 3.3 0.9 1.9 3.5 4.0 9.3 16.1 .577 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 12.4 .571

Season 4
Alex Caruso Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2020-211995-96
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 Finals
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:+4+15.0+20.2+2.9+5.3+8.1+0.1+0.5+1.8-1.6-1.7+8.7+13.8+.137+0.9+2.4+3.8+8.2+.158
Shaquille O'Neal 54 36.0 26.6 3.4 7.7 11.0 2.9 0.6 2.1 2.9 3.6 11.0 19.1 .573 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 9.5 .487
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:+6+18.1+20.0+3.8+4.9+8.7+4.1+0.6+0.6-2.5-1.3+8.6+11.7+.238+0.8+2.8+3.7+9.9+.607
Shaquille O'Neal 12 38.3 25.8 4.1 5.9 10.0 4.6 0.8 1.3 3.7 3.3 10.9 18.0 .606 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 10.2 .393

Season 5
Alex Caruso Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2021-221996-97
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf Semis
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:+10+10.1+18.8+3.0+5.9+8.9+0.9+0.8+2.5-1.5-0.9+8.3+13.2+.159+1.0+3.0+.333+3.1+7.6+.311
Shaquille O'Neal 51 38.1 26.2 3.8 8.7 12.5 3.1 0.9 2.9 2.9 3.5 10.8 19.4 .557 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 9.4 .484
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 -
difference:+5+7.9+20.6+3.7+4.0+7.8+1.1+0.7+0.9-2.1-1.3+7.6+13.4+.123+1.8+4.5+7.1+11.7
Shaquille O'Neal 9 36.2 26.9 4.2 6.3 10.6 3.2 0.6 1.9 2.4 4.1 9.9 19.2 .514 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 11.7 .610

Season 6
Alex Caruso Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2022-231997-98
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Finals
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:+7+12.8+22.7+2.9+5.6+8.5+0.5+0.8+1.7-1.8-0.8+9.3+14.8+.129+0.8+2.3+5.1+10.3+.281
Shaquille O'Neal 60 36.3 28.3 3.5 7.9 11.4 2.4 0.7 2.4 2.9 3.2 11.2 19.1 .584 0.0 0.0 - 6.0 11.4 .527
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso DNP------ --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 13 38.5 30.5 3.7 6.5 10.2 2.9 0.5 2.6 3.3 3.2 12.2 19.8 .612 0.0 0.0 - 6.2 12.2 .503

Season 7
Alex Caruso Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2023-241998-99
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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:+22+6.1+16.2+2.9+3.9+6.9+1.2+1.0+0.7-1.1-0.7+6.8+10.5+.108+1.9+4.7+4.5+8.8+.220
Shaquille O'Neal 49 34.8 26.3 3.8 6.9 10.7 2.3 0.7 1.7 2.5 3.2 10.4 18.1 .576 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 10.2 .540
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso DNP------ --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 8 39.4 26.6 5.5 6.1 11.6 2.3 0.9 2.9 2.3 3.6 9.9 19.4 .510 0.0 0.0 - 6.9 14.8 .466

Season 8
Alex Caruso Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2024-251999-00
Team Oklahoma City ThunderLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+25+20.7+22.6+3.6+7.2+10.7+1.3+1.1+2.4-2.1-1.3+9.5+15.3+.128+1.1+3.1+4.7+9.5+.300
Shaquille O'Neal 79 40.0 29.7 4.3 9.4 13.6 3.8 0.5 3.0 2.8 3.2 12.1 21.1 .574 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 10.4 .524
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
difference:+19.1+21.5+4.5+8.3+12.7+0.9+1.4+1.8-1.6-0.2+9.3+15.0+.116+1.6+3.9+4.6+11.2+.339
Shaquille O'Neal 23 43.5 30.7 5.2 10.3 15.4 3.1 0.6 2.4 2.4 2.9 12.4 22.0 .566 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 12.9 .456

Additional Years

* Shaquille O'Neal played 11 seasons more than Alex Caruso in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 19, from 2001 to 2011—Shaquille O'Neal played in 10 Playoffs and won 3 NBA Championships.

In those 11 extra years over Alex Caruso, Shaquille O'Neal got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 Finals MVP
Achievement 6 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 2 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 8 All-Star Game
Achievement 2 All-Star Game MVP
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