According to Eric Woodyard of ESPN on Tuesday, Indiana Pacers shooting guard Caris LeVert of Columbus, Ohio underwent kidney cancer surgery at an Indianapolis hospital. LeVert was part of the NBA blockbuster trade that sent James Harden from the Houston Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets on January 13.
However since the trade went down, LeVert has not yet played with the Pacers. Initially, it was reported that there was a small mass on the kidney according to Gerald Bourguet of Fansided, and it was since determined that LeVert indeed had cancer. The surgery was successful and LeVert is expected to make a full recovery.
The fact that LeVert was traded when he was might have actually saved his life. That is because players involved in the trade needed to have a physical before the trade was made official, and it was only during the MRI that doctors noticed that something was wrong with LeVert’s kidney.
When LeVert does join the Pacers, Indiana will receive a guard with plenty of offensive skill. Last year with the Nets, LeVert was a major reason why Brooklyn reached the NBA playoffs during a season where they did not have the services of Kyrie Irving for most of the season and Kevin Durant at all due to injury. LeVert was third on the Nets in points per game with 18.7.
In 2020-21 prior to the deal, LeVert played in 12 games for the Nets and started four, as he primarily came off the bench. Even though he had a lack of starts compared to last season, LeVert still averaged 18.5 points per game, and had career highs in assists (six), and rebounds per game (4.3). He also had a .435 field goal percentage, .349 three-point percentage, and a career-high .765 free throw percentage.
There is no time frame at this moment when LeVert will return to the lineup. Indiana currently has the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference at 10 wins and seven losses.
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