Alex Caruso vs. Mel Counts Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Mel Counts 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

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 7 years in the NBA, 5 less than Mel Counts, who played 12. Alex Caruso had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, while Mel Counts had his rookie season in 1964-65. 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 achivements, 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 7 3 2017-18 to 2023-24
Mel Counts 12 8 1964-65 to 1975-76

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season 2017-181964-65
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mel Counts 54 10.6 4.8 - - 4.9 0.4 - - - 2.5 1.9 5.0 .368 - - - 1.1 1.4 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts 4 7.5 2.3 - - 2.8 0.3 - - - 2.5 1.0 3.8 .267 - - - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 2

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season 2018-191965-66
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mel Counts 67 15.2 8.4 - - 6.4 0.7 - - - 3.1 3.3 8.2 .403 - - - 1.8 2.2 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts 10 8.2 4.3 - - 4.0 0.3 - - - 2.6 1.4 3.9 .359 - - - 1.5 1.7 .882

Season 3

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season 2019-201966-67
Team Los Angeles LakersBaltimore Bullets, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mel Counts 56 15.4 7.6 - - 6.1 0.9 - - - 3.3 3.2 7.5 .422 - - - 1.2 1.7 .734
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mel Counts 3 9.7 4.7 - - 2.7 0.0 - - - 2.0 1.7 6.3 .263 - - - 1.3 1.3 1.000

Season 4

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season 2020-211967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mel Counts 82 21.2 11.7 - - 8.9 1.7 - - - 3.8 4.7 9.9 .475 - - - 2.3 3.1 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mel Counts 15 20.4 8.6 - - 8.9 1.6 - - - 3.5 3.6 6.7 .535 - - - 1.4 2.1 .677

Season 5

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season 2021-221968-69
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mel Counts 77 24.2 12.4 - - 7.8 1.4 - - - 2.9 5.1 11.3 .450 - - - 2.3 2.9 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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 -
Mel Counts 18 24.6 11.2 - - 7.9 1.4 - - - 3.7 4.1 10.7 .385 - - - 3.0 3.9 .761

Season 6

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season 2022-231969-70
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mel Counts 81 27.1 12.6 - - 8.4 2.0 - - - 3.8 5.4 12.6 .427 - - - 1.9 2.5 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts 14 15.1 6.1 - - 5.3 1.1 - - - 3.4 2.6 6.3 .420 - - - 0.8 0.9 .846

Season 7

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season 2023-241970-71
Team Chicago BullsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mel Counts 80 20.9 11.0 - - 6.3 1.7 - - - 3.5 4.6 10.0 .457 - - - 1.9 2.5 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season -1971-72
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts 76 11.9 5.2 - - 3.4 1.3 - - - 2.1 1.9 4.5 .427 - - - 1.3 1.8 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season -1972-73
Team -Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts 66 10.0 4.6 - - 3.8 1.0 - - - 1.6 2.0 4.5 .449 - - - 0.6 0.9 .672
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts 17 19.2 9.1 - - 6.1 1.6 - - - 3.0 3.6 7.8 .459 - - - 1.9 2.4 .780

Season 10

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season -1973-74
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts 45 11.1 3.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 1.2 0.4 0.5 - 1.9 1.4 3.7 .365 - - - 0.5 0.7 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts 4 8.5 3.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 - 0.8 1.5 3.0 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season -1974-75
Team -New Orleans Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts 75 18.9 6.9 1.4 4.5 5.9 2.4 0.7 0.6 - 2.6 2.9 6.6 .438 - - - 1.1 1.5 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Alex Caruso Mel Counts
Season -1975-76
Team -New Orleans Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts 30 10.6 3.0 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.3 0.5 0.3 - 2.5 1.2 3.0 .407 - - - 0.5 0.7 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alex Caruso ------- --- ----------
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------