Brooklyn Nets’ Young Guns Deserve More Playing Time

Dec 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Caris LeVert (22) shoots the ball past San Antonio Spurs center Dewayne Dedmon (3, right) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Caris LeVert (22) shoots the ball past San Antonio Spurs center Dewayne Dedmon (3, right) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
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Caris LeVert

Caris LeVert was acquired in the 2016 NBA draft, when Sean Marks shipped Thaddeus Young to the Indiana Pacers for the rights to their draft pick. LeVert was the result of the pick. Some fans loved the pick and some were nervous considering LeVert has just come off of multiple surgeries after his season at Michigan was cut short due to foot injuries.

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The rookie missed the first six weeks of the season, but has come back and shown the fans what they have been missing. LeVert has been great for Brooklyn both on offense and defense. The Michigan product had a strict minutes restriction at the beginning of his return, for obvious reasons, but has seen an increase of late.

LeVert has seen 20 or more minutes in eleven of the 14 games he has played in since January began. In half of those games, LeVert has scored 10 or more points. In addition, LeVert is averaging a steal per game for Brooklyn.

It is clear that LeVert was a good pickup for Brooklyn. Atkinson and Marks are playing it safe and not pushing the rookie to play too much. LeVert, though, has made a case to be inserted into the starting lineup. The team plays better when he is on the floor and the fans love watching him play. He can still play slightly limited minutes, but he deserves a chance to start and show the league what he is made of.