In the new year, Caris LeVert has been one of the few bright spots of an eleven-game losing streak Nets team. For many, this isn’t too surprising, considering LeVert’s versatility and freakish 6-foot-10 wingspan.
Still, the high rate of LeVert’s progress is astounding, since he has only played 21 games in a black-and-white-uniform.
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LeVert had a string of foot issues from his days in Michigan, and the Nets knew they’d be taking a chance on a prospect who’d need foot surgery and a lot of time to rehabilitate. Still, the Nets decided to take a chance on him by trading Thaddeus Young to the Indiana Pacers for him. So far, it’s paying off.
Since returning to the court 20 games into the 2016-17 season, LeVert has shown his abilities as a scorer, playmaker, and defender. LeVert’s basketball IQ is unequivocally high for a rookie coming off foot injuries and surgery, and his height helps. At 6-foot-7, LeVert often has the size advantage against opponents, especially when playing at the two.
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In college, LeVert was known as a strong three-point shooter, knocking down 45 percent of them in his last year at Michigan. While his 31.3 percent clip with the Nets isn’t nearly as good as that, he has improved in his last two games, shooting 4-of-9 (44.4 percent) from downtown.
Brooklyn has also been hesitant to use LeVert at the point, but it could happen eventually. The 22-year-old has shown though, that he can create plays, as he’s had three games with four or more assists.
The Nets may not be all that exciting to watch this season, but Caris LeVert sure is.