The LeVert File
- Drafted 20th Overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers
- Traded to the Brooklyn Nets on draft night
Saved by the trade
Players are traded all the time and therefore receive routine physicals as well. However, when the Brooklyn Nets made the trade for James Harden in January 2021, Caris LeVert found himself in the deal and suddenly would be relocating to Indiana. Sometimes there are defining moments in life, that can change the course of history. The Harden trade was that moment for LeVert, who found himself in Indianapolis receiving a more thorough physical than most teams conduct, which might have saved his life. The doctors, upon looking at the results, found a tumor on LeVert's left kidney, which ended up being cancerous.
Luckily for him, doctor's were able to remove the tumor before the situation could worsen. For someone like LeVert, who has dealt with so much adversity throughout his life, his story created a lot of fans over the years. And while all the stories typically point to how stressful being traded is, consider this moment to be one of those rare positives. A true blessing in disguise.