Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert, 26, undergoes successful kidney cancer surgery after a mass was discovered during a routine physical following his trade from the Brooklyn Nets
Newly acquired Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert has undergone successful surgery to treat kidney cancer and is expected to make a full recovery, the team revealed Tuesday.
Monday's procedure was aimed at treating renal cell carcinoma of his left kidney, which was discovered during a routine physical following the four-team trade that sent LeVert from Brooklyn to Indianapolis and All-Star James Harden to the Nets. The condition is the most common form of kidney cancer found in adults.
According to Dr. Jason Sprunger at Indianapolis' Community North Hospital, who performed the surgery, no further treatment is necessary and LeVert is expected to make a full recovery. However, the 26-year-old remains out indefinitely, according to the team.
Newly acquired Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert has undergone successful surgery to treat kidney cancer and is expected to make a full recovery, the team revealed Tuesday
Prior to Tuesday, the team had not acknowledged that the small mass found on his kidney during the physical was, in fact, cancerous. However, the Pacers did announce that a growth was found immediately following his physical.
Had Houston not agreed to send Harden to Brooklyn in the blockbuster trade, it's not known when — or if — the mass would have been detected.
LeVert told reporters during a conference call last week that he was lucky the deal was made.
'I hadn't missed any games this season yet. I was 100 percent healthy,' LeVert said. 'In a way this trade showed and revealed what was going on in my body. So I'm definitely looking at it from that side and definitely humbled to know that that this trade could have saved me in the long run.
LeVert has yet to play with his new team
'A lot of things creeped through my mind,' he continued. 'I really didn't know what was going on. I didn't know the next steps, I didn't know if the trade was going to go through. Obviously, it did and I think that's a testament to this organization and not only how good of people they are but how much they believe in me.
'That was huge for me. I just can't wait to get healthy and get back on the court.'
After battling injuries at the University of Michigan, LeVert was drafted by the Pacers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft, but was then dealt to Brooklyn, where he was averaging 18.5 points and 6.0 assists a game before the trade.
A popular player in Brooklyn, LeVert explained on Instagram that he was touched by the outpouring of support from Nets fans amid his cancer scare.
'First and foremost I just wanna thank u all for the overwhelming amount of positive texts, calls, messages, etc concerning my health,' he wrote. 'This past week hasn't been easy for my family and I but we appreciate the love and support!
'I'm extremely excited to start my next chapter and join this storied franchise and city!!' he said of joining the Pacers. 'I can't wait to get healthy and get back to work.'
LeVert thanked fans on Instagram after an outpouring of supporting amid his cancer scare