Nets swingman Caris LeVert, who underwent tests on Tuesday after leaving Monday’s game with a gruesome leg injury, has been diagnosed with a subtalar dislocation of the right foot, the team announced today in a press release. It’s good news for LeVert, who didn’t break any bones and hasn’t been ruled out for the entire 2018/19 season.
“Fortunately, tests performed this morning revealed that there are no fractures and only moderate ligament damage,” Nets orthopedist Dr. Martin O’Malley said in a statement. “While the optics of this injury may have appeared to be more severe, surgery will not be required. Caris will begin a period of rehabilitation with the Nets’ performance staff, following which he is expected to return to full strength and resume all basketball activities without any limitations this season.”
LeVert, who has dealt with foot injuries in the past, appeared to be in the midst of a breakout season until Monday’s injury. In 14 games, he had averaged 18.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 3.7 APG, putting him in position to receive early consideration for this season’s Most Improved Player award.
LeVert almost certainly won’t be in the running for that honor anymore, since his latest foot injury will sideline him for a good chunk of the season. However, the fact that the Nets expect him to return to the court by the spring is great news, considering the injury initially looked like a sure bet to end his season. The 24-year-old remains a long-term building block for the franchise, as ESPN’s Zach Lowe details in an excellent piece today.
LeVert’s injury could open up the door for players like D’Angelo Russell, Allen Crabbe, DeMarre Carroll, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to pick up some extra minutes, depending on how the Nets structure their lineups in his absence.
Wow amazing, the Nets still have hope if he returns March around there. I think they could stay afloat till he gets back, Joe Harris leads the league in spot up 3 point percentage.
He’s not coming back…
I dont see the nets risking him coming back when they will be out the playoffs…i think they rather settle for a decent draft pick…tho the net swill remain competitive…not full blown tank
It’s a weak draft, if you aren’t drafting top 5 there is no need to tank.
That’s what I was sure of as well.
I’m relieved to be wrong.
I hope he can be Caris again.
I just dropped him in my fantasy league…now everyone is so hyped off the news that hes coming back so im trying to make everyone spend their FAAB money on him…im spreading fake news that he will be back in late december. We have an IR spot.
No one cares about your fantasy team.
LeVert is a good, solid player… but in no way he should be considered a building block for the Nets, well if they are trying to compete that is, the only potential star they have right now is D’Lo, though, so far he hasn’t proved himself, Jarrett Allen is another good solid player, but I think all in this team could be on the market, maybe except D’Lo & Jarrett, as it is always the hardest to get a good big, for the rest all should be expendable, even LeVert, like Richardson in Miami, they might be good assets to bring someone better through the door.