Yahoo Finance Caris LeVert to reportedly debut Saturday after bout with kidney cancer
Less than two months after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his kidney, Caris LeVert is reportedly ready to make his season debut. LeVert is expected to play in his first game with the Pacers on Saturday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
After undergoing surgery to remove a small mass on his left kidney in late January, guard Caris LeVert will make his Indiana Pacers debut vs. Phoenix on Saturday, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2021
After spending his first four+ seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, LeVert was traded to the Pacers as part of the James Harden deal. During a physical with the Pacers, doctors discovered a mass on LeVert's kidney. LeVert said he felt totally fine at the time, and would not have realized he was ill if not for the trade. At the time, LeVert said the trade to the Pacers "may have saved me."
A week after the trade, LeVert had surgery to remove the cancerous mass from his kidney. Doctors were able to remove the mass, and LeVert did not have to undergo any additional treatments — including chemotherapy.
Caris LeVert made progress in March
In a "miraculous development," LeVert recovered better than expected. In early March, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported LeVert could return to play for the Pacers in the second half of the 2020-21 NBA season.
LeVert's recovery has continued to improve since then. He's reportedly ramped things up in practice recently, according to Wojnarowski, opening the door for him to play in Saturday's game against the Phoenix Suns.
LeVert underwent surgery to treat renal cell carcinoma on the kidney upon its discovery in a physical exam shortly after arriving from Brooklyn in four-team trade centered on James Harden. LeVert has been ramping up in recent practices for his return with the Pacers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2021
In a little over four seasons in the NBA, LeVert is averaging 13.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He took his game to another level last season, averaging 18.7 points. LeVert kept those gains this season, as he averaged 18.5 points per game in 12 games before being traded to the Pacers.
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