The former Michigan basketball player could return this season
ANN ARBOR — Caris LeVert will not need surgery and could return this season after hurting himself in Monday night’s Brooklyn Nets game. Given the reactions of those who witnessed the injury — either in person or through video replay — that qualifies as encouraging news for the former Michigan basketball star.
The Nets released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying that team orthopedist Martin O’Malley evaluated LeVert in New York on Tuesday. The third-year guard was diagnosed with a subtalar dislocation of the right foot.
« Fortunately, tests performed this morning revealed that there are no fractures and only moderate ligament damage, » O’Malley said in the release. « 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’s coach at Michigan, John Beilein, met with reporters Tuesday in advance of Wednesday’s game at Villanova. « It looks like it’s going to have a good ending, » Beilein said. Beilein had received a call from LeVert and his agent earlier in the day. Beilein had heard about the injury but had no interest in watching the video.
LeVert, who came to Michigan as an unheralded recruit in 2012 and blossomed into a star as a sophomore, missed large chunks of his junior and senior seasons because of foot injuries.
« Caris and I have been through a lot, from his recruitment all the way to two very promising years that were just cut short, » Beilein said. And it was like, ‘Why does this happen?’…
« But then I got the call this morning that, you know what, there’s no fractures. As a result, if there’s no fractures, there’s a chance he could be back this year. He is a bit of a Gumby, bendable guy, right?… Talking to him on the phone today I could tell he was so relieved that this is not one of those season-ending injuries that he’s seen twice. »
