Caris LeVert became sort of a cult hero among Brooklyn Nets fans, as he was with the team when they lacked draft picks and talent in the mid-2010s black hole and developed into a legitimate starting guard in the NBA capable of going for 20 points a night regularly.
While Nets fans had to be disappointed with the fact that the James Harden trade sent LeVert to the Indiana Pacers, a physical detected an anomaly on his kidney. Truly, that deal — and the resulting procedure — could’ve saved his life.
LeVert underwent surgery to treat renal cell carcinoma in his left kidney. While he remains out indefinitely, his surgery going well has to brighten the mood of every NBA fan.
A possibly life-saving trade for Caris LeVert. He underwent a physical with Indiana, which ultimately helped him diagnose and treat the cancer. The Pacers stood by him and the trade and have made it a priority to help him get fully healthy.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 26, 2021
Prayers up. https://t.co/3WqMgrLt9S
Caris LeVert’s cancer wouldn’t have been discovered as quickly as it was without the Brooklyn Nets trading for James Harden.
LeVert was averaging 18.5 points per game with the Nets before the trade, and Indiana expected him to form a formidable backcourt with Malcolm Brogdon after Victor Oladipo was sent to the Houston Rockets. Due to the fact that the mass on his kidney was discovered, LeVert has yet to suit up for the Pacers.
As much as it hurt to lose someone who has overcome long injury odds to become one of the best combo guards in the league, we may never know if LeVert’s kidney cancer would’ve been discovered if he didn’t go through a physical with Indiana. Luckily for LeVert, the Pacers made getting this kidney problem taken care of a top priority, and doing so could ultimately end up expediting his return to the NBA. They also chose to stick by their newly-acquired player rather than fight and attempt to torpedo the trade with Houston. Indianapolis appears to be a first-class organization all the way.
No matter what happens on the court, this trade was worth completing, as setting this in motion might’ve helped LeVert beat cancer. Even though LeVert might be wearing blue and gold, Nets fans will be cheering him on when he returns to the court.
Nets: What will Caris LeVert’s Brooklyn legacy be?
The Caris LeVert trade marks a philosophical shift in thinking, as he was one of the last remaining remnants of the old Brooklyn Nets culture