Caris LeVert

At 30 years old, Caris LeVert has this physical status:

Caris Coleman LeVert (born August 25, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Brooklyn Nets. (NBA)

He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines.

He nearly redshirted but played a significant role off the bench as the team advanced to the championship game in the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

He joined the 2013-14 team as a sophomore, earning him as a second starter on the outright Big Ten regular season champions.

Injury dogged his junior and senior seasons.

Levert is Eddie Levert's cousin, Gerald Levert, and Sean Levert.

Early life

LeVert grew up in Columbus but in second grade he transferred to Pickerington, Ohio. Jae'Sean Tate, a future Ohio State forward, was one of his classmates at Pickerington High School Central. He led Pickerington Central to a 26–2 record and the 2012 OHSAA Division I state championship as a high school senior. LeVert, a 2012 Columbus Dispatch Metro Player of the Year for Pickerington High School Central, was a 2012 Associated Press All-Ohio second team basketball player and the 2012 Columbus Dispatch Metro Player of the Year. He was not heavily recruited in high school, and his first official visit was to Alabama State. In November 2011, he committed to play basketball for John Groce and the Ohio Bobcats' men's basketball team. Meanwhile, when Mitch McGary and Nik Stauskas joined Glenn Robinson III by committing to Michigan in November 2011, Michigan became the country's fifth best recruiting class.

LeVert, who was hired by Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball in March 2012, became mired in the shuffle and committed to Michigan. Groce's 2011–12 Ohio Bobcats' upset of the 2011–12 Michigan team in the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was probably the reason that Groce was hired by Illinois and LeVert signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Ohio, ironically.

Personal life

LeVert's uncle, Kim and Darryl Wayne LeVert, is his son, and he has a brother, Darryl Marcus, who is his junior by 11 months. His mother, a first-grade teacher at Columbus City Schools, works with his students. On April 4, 2010, his father, a graphic designer, died at the age of 46. Darryl Marcus, his brother, played basketball for Connors State College. LeVert is the third cousin of Eddie LeVert, the O'Jays' lead vocalist, and he comes from a musical family. Eddie LeVert, a guitarist from LSG and LeVert, is among Eddie's sons (along with Sean LeVert).

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College career

The 2011-12 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team had been co-champions of 2011–12 Big Ten Conference, but both of its co-captains, Zack Novak and Stu Douglass, were unable to graduate and three others were transferring. Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. were among the team's returning a nucleus of All-Big Ten players.

LeVert arrived in Michigan weighing 162 pounds (73.5 kg). He started the year as a freshman behind Stauskas, Robinson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Matt Vogrich on the depth chart for the shooting guard/small forward positions, but did not participate in the first six games as a result. LeVert was a member of an incoming class that included McGary, Stauskas, Robinson, and Spike Albrecht. LeVert's value as a perimeter defense defender was discovered by Michigan head coach John Beilein, who decided to play him rather than redshirt him. Stauskas got off to a good start on December 1st regular season against Bradley Beilein. LeVert saw his first action on December 1st. After rehearsals, LeVert became Burke's one-on-one partner. Tim Hardaway Jr. was unable to start LeVert against Central Michigan on December 29, his first appearance. Robinson, Stauskas, and LeVert, the three newcomers in the starting lineup, combined for 48 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. LeVert recorded 9 points and 5 assists on the night. In less than 11 minutes of play per game, LeVert averaged 2.3 points. He never scored in double digits as a freshman, but he did win over Illinois and Michigan State as well as the 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament final four victory over Syracuse in 21 minutes of play.

As newmen, LeVert's classmates all gave their names for themselves. LeVert and Stauskas trained together on the court and in the weight room during the Spring and Summer semesters (the offseason). As a sophomore, he followed Columbus native and National Player of the Year Burke as a key contributor to Michigan basketball. He scored 24 points against South Carolina State on November 12 after starting the season with career-highs of 17 points and 5 rebounds against UMass Lowell on November 8. In the ACC–Big Ten Challenge on December 3, Michigan defeated Duke (#10 AP Poll/#8 Coaches' Poll) for the fourth time, LeVert made 24 points, including a 7-07 free throw appearance. Michigan defeated (#3 AP/#3 Coaches) Wisconsin at the Kohl Center for the first time since the 1998–99 team did so on January 18, 1999. It was the highest ranked team Michigan had ever defeated on the road. LeVert had a career-high 4 steals and 20 points. LeVert recorded his first double-double against Purdue on January 30 with a career-high 11 rebounds and 14 points. Despite LeVert's career-high 25 points, Michigan lost to (#21/21) Wisconsin on February 16, defeating them by a narrow margin. Michigan won the Big Ten Conference for the first time since 1985–86. He was a member of the 2014 All-Big Ten team (coaches and media). The United States Basketball Writers Association announced LeVert on March 11 that he was one of the all-District V (OH, IN, MI, MN, WI) team. (USBWA). By Kentucky, the 2013-14 squad was disqualified in the elite eight round of the 2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Julius Randle, Aaron Harrison, Marcus Lee, and LeVert, as a teammate Stauskas, joined Julius Randle, Aaron Harrison, and Marcus Lee on the All-Midwest Regional team.

LeVert underwent surgery on May 12 to fix a stress fracture in his foot. He was supposed to be out for 8-10 weeks, but he would be able to participate in Europe in August. LeVert returned to action just before the team's 10-day, 4-game trip to Italy on August 15–24.

LeVert was voted first team All-Big Ten preseason pick alongside Frank Kaminsky, Yogi Ferrell, Terran Petteway, and Sam Dekker before the 2014–15 season. LeVert was selected by NBCSports.com to its Preseason All-American first team, by SB Nation, Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, Athlon Sports, Sports Illustrated, and CBSSports.com to their second teams and then to its third team, and by USA Today to its third team. LeVert was ranked at number 13 by ESPN in its preseason top 100 players poll. He was also recognized as a John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 candidate. On November 24, LeVert was also listed to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List. He was also included in the early December Naismith Award top 50 watch list.

LeVert and Spike Albrecht were co-captain of the team. On November 15, he opened the season with 9 assists against Hillsdale College, beating his previous career high of five. LeVert set a career high by making 11 free throws against Oregon on November 24, leading to the team's 69-63 victory in the Legends Classic semifinal tournament. In an upset loss to NJIT, he scored a career-high 32 points and tied a career-high 4 steals on December 6 for a career-high 4 steals. On January 10, he had 4 steals against Minnesota again. He rejected the foot against Northwestern on January 17th and was out of contention for the season. LeVert led Michigan in scoring (14.9), assists (3.7), steals (1.7) and minutes (338.8) at the time of his injury. LeVert was on crutches until early March and then in a protective walking boot until early April.

LeVert was supposed to be a 2017 NBA draft pick, but after his injury, some believe his draft stock was affected. Following the season, he sought advice from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee but decided against doing so early and get into the second round. LeVert announced on April 21 that he would return for his senior season. LeVert will have a chance to develop his pick and roll decision making, his midrange offensive game, and his defense, especially against screens, according to CBSSports.com's Sam Vecenie.

LeVert was named an All-Big Ten preseason pick for the second year in a row prior to the 2015–16 season. Following Maurice Taylor's, LaVell Blanchard, and Manny Harris, LeVert became the fourth Wolverine to win the award multiple times in their career. According to the Big Ten Network, he was also one of five All-Big Ten preseason picks. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced him as one of three Big Ten preseason watchlists (along with James Blackmon Jr. and Rasheed Sulaimon). He was selected by Athlon Sports Preseason All-American 3rd Team pick Athlon Sports Preseason All-American 3rd team. LeVert was ranked 16 by ESPN and 23 by NBC Sports in preseason top 100 player rankings. On November 17, he made the first 50-man John R. Wooden Award watch list. LeVert received accolades on December 2nd for his 50-man Naismith College Player of the Year watchlist and 33-man Robertson Trophy watchlists.

LeVert's season started with a game-high 18 points and 5 assists against Northern Michigan after being suspended for the final 14 games of the previous season. LeVert set a new high against Elon on November 16, posting four steals in his career debut. LeVert made his first appearance at point guard against Houston Baptist on December 5, while Derrick Walton sat out due to a strained ankle and only 8 rebounds. As LeVert slumped on 1–13 field goal shooting and 3–6 free throw shootings, Michigan lost 858–58 to (19/-) SMU on December 8. LeVert scored 13 points, ten rebounds, and ten assists against Northern Kentucky on December 15, becoming the fourth player in Michigan to have a triple-double and the 49th Wolverine to reach 1,000 career points. LeVert earned Co-Big Ten Player of the Week awards after a triple double against Northern Kentucky and a 19-point victory over Youngstown State on December 21. Michigan defeated Illinois 78–68 in their Big Ten Conference opener on December 30, when LeVert recorded a 22-point, 10-assist double-double. LeVert missed Penn State's game against Penn State on January 2 due to a lower left leg injury. He was the team leader in points, rebounds, and assists at the time.

LeVert was one of the four Big Ten players (along with Melo Trimble, Jarrod Uthoff, and Denzel Valentine) among the 25 athletes included in the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List on January 13, 2014. Head coach Beilein soon announced that LeVert's left leg injury was not related to his previous left foot stress fractures that LeVert had suffered. Despite missing the last 8 of Michigan's 22 games, LeVert was one of two Big Ten contestants (along with Malcolm Hill) named one of ten finalists for the Jerry West Award on February 2nd. MLive.com's Brendan F. Quinn revealed on February 10 that LeVert had been cleared to play. Michigan defeated Purdue (#18/16) 61-56 on February 13, LeVert scored five rebounds and one assist in 11 minutes after missing the previous 11 games. The team announced on March 1 that the injury would bring LeVert's season and college career to an end. Dr. Martin O'Malley, a New York City surgeon, underwent his third surgical procedure in 22 months on his left foot. The LeVert's initial stock had slipped to the second round by late April. He appeared in crutches at the end of April, according to the Michigan Basketball Twitter account. He was accepted to the NBA Draft Combine from May 11-2015. LeVert, who is also on crutches at the combine, confirmed that his injury was a Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal, and that Kevin Durant, who works with the same clinic and used the same doctor, had called to encourage him.

Professional career

LeVert wrote an open letter to NBA general managers a day before the 2016 NBA draft to assure them of his resiliency in the face of all of his doubters due to his injury. The Indiana Pacers selected LeVert with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 draft on June 23, 2016. He was Michigan's fifth first-round draft pick since 2013 and the fourth player drafted from Michigan's 2012 recruiting class. In exchange for Thaddeus Young, his rights were subsequently traded to the Brooklyn Nets on July 7. At the time, Dr. O'Malley, who had undergone LeVert's most recent foot surgery, was on the Brooklyn Nets medical staff. He started his Nets rookie scale contract on July 14. LeVert missed the 2016 NBA Summer League, as well as the preseason, and is back to training near the start of the regular season. He started the season on the wrong side of the season and is also rehabbing his injuries. On December 4, he was allowed to play. He made his professional debut against the Denver Nuggets on December 7. Despite going 0-of-3 on the track, he still had four rebounds and three steals in 9 minutes of play, becoming the first Net to post 3 steals in his debut since Chris Childs in 1994. In 5:15 of play before halftime, Levert was up for action in the second quarter with 3 steals and 3 rebounds. On December 10, LeVert scored his first NBA points against the San Antonio Spurs on a back door reverse layup assisted by Brook Lopez. LeVert scored 12 points against the Washington Wizards and former Michigan one-on-one training partner Burke's season-high 27 points on December 30 for the first time. Levert made his first NBA appearance against former Michigan teammates Robinson and the Indiana Pacers on February 3. LeVert's first 20-point performance against the Orlando Magic on April 6th was his first 20-point effort. Despite missing a large portion of the year, LeVert was close to making the NBA All-Rookie team, finishing 12th in the voting for the 10-man team.

It opened up playing time when Jeremy Lin was sidelined for the 2017-18 NBA season after the first game. LeVert made the starting lineup against the Atlanta Hawks on October 22 after Allen Crabbe started game 2 with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. On November 6 against the Phoenix Suns, he had a 5-steal game while causing Devin Booker to foul out, but he had a 5-steal show. With injuries to point guards Jeremy Lin and D'Angelo Russell, coach Kenny Atkinson was captivated by LeVert's excitement at taking on a new challenge, including returning the back-up point guard role to Spencer Dinwiddie. Russell Westbrook, the former NBA MVP, had career highs in points (21) and assists (10) against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Mexico City on December 7, the first anniversary of his NBA debut. Despite being lauded for his 2-steal/2-block/5-rebound effort against Westbrook, his success was also lauded for his offensive double-double on offense. LeVert scored 22 points against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 27. In a 111–87 victory over the Miami Heat, he had 12 points and a career-high 11 assists. LeVert suffered with a few minor injuries (groin and knee) in January and February, causing him to miss a total of ten games in three separate stretches. In a 123-120 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on March 4, 2018, he had a 27-point effort. Levert, who had a career-high 12 rebounds and 19 points against the Miami Heat on March 31, he had a career-high 12 rebounds against the Miami Heat.

In a 103-100 loss to the Detroit Pistons, LeVert tied for his career high with 27 points in his season opener on October 17, 2018. In a 107-105 victory over the New York Knicks, he set a new career record with 28 points in a new career opener. Tim Hardaway Jr., a former Michigan teammate, was defeated by 28 points with just 1 second remaining. On November 2 against the Houston Rockets, he set a new career high with 29 points. To beat the Denver Nuggets 112–110 on November 9, he scored 17 points and hit a floater in the lane with 0.3 seconds remaining. LeVert sustained a serious right leg injury in the first half of the Nets' 120–113 loss to the Timberwolves in Minnesota on November 12. He was later diagnosed with a subtalar dislocation of the right foot. LeVert, the Nets' top scorer, entered the game with a record of 19 points per game. LeVert was the only player up to that point in the NBA season with more than one game-winning basket in the final ten seconds of regulation or overtime in the final 10 seconds. After missing 42 games, LeVert returned to action on February 8, 2019. In a 125-106 loss to the Chicago Bulls, he had 11 points in 15 minutes off the bench. LeVert scored 23 points in a 111–102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in game one of the Nets' first-round playoff series.

LeVert announced on August 26, 2019 that he had signed a three-year deal extension with the Nets. Levert recovered from a thumb injury that had sidelined him since November 10 with 13 points against the Toronto Raptors on January 4, 2020. In his first appearance since his injury, Levert tied his career high with 29 points against the Phoenix Suns on February 3. It was the first time Levert had posted three straight 20-point games in his career as he reached a new career high of 37 points on February 8, defeating the Raptors. On the night, he made his first 6 three-point shots but lost his seventh attempt to win the game in the final seconds. LeVert led the Nets to a 129-120 victory over the Boston Celtics on March 3, a career-high 51 points (his first 50-point game) in the fourth quarter and overtime. Julius Erving, the Nets' captain, played in his first Brooklyn Nets game on March 6, LeVert recorded his first triple-double (27 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists) in a 139-120 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on March 6, two games later.

Durant, Kyrie Irving, Dinwiddie, and Tyler Johnson were among LeVert's career best 7 three-point shots on 9 attempts against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 8, 2021.

LeVert was traded to the Indiana Pact on January 16, 2021, during a multi-player, four-team contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets that brought James Harden to Brooklyn and Victor Oladipo to Houston. After an MRI revealed a small mass on his left kidney, LeVert was postponed indefinitely. He said the trade possibly saved his life because he was feeling 100% well. LeVert underwent successful surgery on January 25, 2021, to remove the lump, which was confirmed as renal cell carcinoma. He was supposed to recover fully, and no further medication was required. LeVert returned to the court on March 13 for his Pacers debut, scoring 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in Indiana's 122-111 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

LeVert, along with a 2022 second-round pick, was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Ricky Rubio, a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick. In a 105-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, LeVert made his Cavaliers debut on February 9, putting up 11 points off the bench.

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