In the wake of the devastating injury suffered by Caris LeVert on Monday night in Minnesota, the entire NBA community came together in an outpouring of prayers, love and respect for the budding Nets star.
However, all may not be lost for LeVert this season after all. The Nets issued an update Tuesday afternoon that indicated LeVert suffered no break or fracture when he injured his lower right leg in a fall at Target Center, and he is expected to return at full strength later this season. LeVert was diagnosed with a subtalar dislocation of the right foot. No surgery will be required.
"Fortunately, tests performed this morning revealed that there are no fractures and only moderate ligament damage," Nets team orthopedist Dr. Martin O'Malley said in an update released by the team. "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."
O'Malley is the same surgeon who performed the last of LeVert's three foot surgeries when he was at Michigan.
Video of the gruesome injury LeVert suffered with 3.7 seconds left in the first half had a profound impact not only on all the players on the court but resonated far beyond the walls of Target Center. LeVert went up to contest a shot by Timberwolves rookie Josh Okogie, and the two crashed to the floor, where LeVert's right foot planted on the hardwood and his lower right leg collapsed in grotesque fashion above the ankle.
Some of LeVert's teammates were in tears on the court and in the locker room at halftime Monday night, and the atmosphere in the postgame locker room was funereal to say the least. As veteran Jared Dudley said, "Devastating. Devastating to the team. He's such a good kid. Our best player, our go-to scorer. As athletes we're all human like everybody else. Everybody was down."
LeVert is 14 games into what is being viewed as a breakout season in which he is averaging 18.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and excelling on defense as well. As the first draft pick by general manager Sean Marks in 2016, LeVert is viewed as the cornerstone of the franchise rebuilding project. Coach Kenny Atkinson called him "the heart and soul of our program."
When he went down, even the Timberwolves obviously were shaken as they headed to their bench while medical personnel tended to LeVert.
"It's really humbling," T-Wolves forward Anthony Tolliver said. "We all know that could be us. We just know that sick feeling. We definitely wanted to do what we could, and I got the guys together and we prayed for him. Just because we know how tough it is, we wanted to do what we could."
A check of social media showed the congregation praying for LeVert extended across the breadth of the NBA and included stars like LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Love, C.J. McCollum, Eric Gordon, Kyle Kuzma and even retired Hall of Famer Bill Russell. Members of the crosstown rival Knicks sent their best wishes to LeVert, including Enes Kanter, Ron Baker and Kristaps Porzingis, who is recovering from knee surgery himself.
LeVert also heard from former Nets teammates Quincy Acy, who said, "Come back stronger than ever, my brother," and Jeremy Lin. If anyone could feel LeVert's plight, it was Lin, who ruptured a patella tendon in the season opener a year ago, spent a year in rehab and then was traded to Atlanta last summer after two injury-plagued seasons with the Nets.
Lin tweeted: "Noooo!! Not @CarisLeVert...one of the hardest workers I know. Ughhh."
That visceral sound of a gut punch at the end of Lin's tweet pretty much summed up feelings around the NBA.
Porzingis tweeted: "This guy has been hooping!! It's so tough to see that happen...Prayers up for @CarisLeVert. Speedy recovery bro!!"
James chimed in this way: "Young Fella prayers to you! Speedy recovery and even stronger impact coming soon for sure! @CarisLeVert."
Paul added: "Prayers out to @CarisLeVert. Been watchin him play this season and I've loved every bit of it! Hate to see him get injured."
Paul's Rockets teammate Gordon added: "@CarisLeVert I feel for this man. Was having an incredible year. Praying for u dude."
Portland's McCollum said: "Prayers up for @CarisLeVert. Man was out there really serving daily."
The Cavs' Kevin Love said: "Prayers for Caris LeVert. Having a hell of a season. Keep strong."
The Nets' Dudley, who is in his 11th NBA season expressed hope for LeVert's future. "The good thing about this is you see players recover from this and come back and have good careers and I know he will," Dudley said.
