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Six NBA G League Alums Win Title With Los Angeles Lakers

By Chris Cook | October 12, 2020

For the first time since 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers have earned the right to be called champions again. The Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night to finish off the series, bringing to close an unprecedented season.

The 2019-20 Lakers benefited from multiple contributions from NBA G League alums, proving yet again that the league’s official minor league can be a key tool for any NBA team’s ultimate success.

Alex Caruso (OKC Blue & South Bay Lakers alum)

The Carushow, who averaged 5.5 PPG and 1.9 APG this season, is finally a world champion. He contributed on offense as one would expect, but he also made an impact on the defensive side of the ball during the Finals, averaging nearly a steal per game. Caruso even earned the start in Game 6. In an interview during the Finals, Caruso reminisced that the NBA G League was an experience that helped him improve his game. From a Second-team All-NBA G League nod in 2018 to NBA champion in 2020, his story of success will no doubt inspire future generations of G League players to rise up and make the most of their opportunities.

Danny Green (Erie BayHawks, Reno Bighorns, and Austin Spurs alum)

Danny Green was already a two-time NBA champion coming into the 2020 Finals. He won it all last year with Toronto, and now he’s a back-to-back champ, grabbing trophy No. 3 with the Lakers. He averaged 1.9 3PM in the playoffs and moved up to 5th on the all-time NBA Finals 3PM list.

Quinn Cook (Santa Cruz Warriors alum)

Quinn Cook earned his second career title, having won the NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors in 2018. He averaged 2.2 PPG with a 50 FG% and 50 3P% during the 2020 NBA Playoffs.

Kostas Antetokounmpo (Texas Legends, South Bay Lakers alum)

As they say, elite runs in the family. Kostas Antetokounmpo, brother of two-time NBA MVP Giannis, has won his first NBA Finals championship.

Devontae Cacok (South Bay Lakers alum)

Devontae Cacok played 33 games with the South Bay Lakers this season, averaging 19.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. He played in one NBA game during the restart and scored six points and grabbed five assists. He even celebrated a birthday during this special championship run for the Lakers.

Talen Horton-Tucker (South Bay Lakers alum)

Talen Horton-Tucker contributed in two games during this postseason stretch, averaging 7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1 SPG and a 50 FG%. This is Horton-Tucker’s first NBA championship, too.

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