Pacers' Caris LeVert Says Trade May Have Saved His Life

After being traded to the Indiana Pacers, a routine physical uncovered that Caris LeVert had a small mass found on his left kidney.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Indiana Pacers took part in the four-team blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. Their involvement featured sending Victor Oladipo to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Caris LeVert.

During the process to finalize the trade, LeVert underwent a routine physical and it was discovered that he had a small mass on his kidney. The Pacers had a chance to back out of the trade after this discovery but decided to view it from a long-term perspective and goinstead.

When talking to ESPN's Eric Woodyard, LeVert stated how he didn't have symptoms while playing in games despite having a small mass on his kidney. He even stated he was 'feeling 100 percent healthy.'

"I didn't have any symptoms. I was playing in games. I hadn't missed any games this season yet. I was feeling 100 percent healthy," LeVert said. 

LeVert expressed how he's been humbled by the trade and that it potentially could have been a life-saving outcome. Otherwise, he wouldn't have undergone a physical until required to. 

"So, in a way, this trade definitely 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 this trade could've possibly saved me in the long run."

It still needs to be determined if the small mass on LeVert's kidney is cancerous. He underwent testing to help uncover this and is currently awaiting the results for confirmation. 

There isn't yet a timetable for LeVert's return to game action. The top priority is for him to get healthy and more information about the situation will be available as the process plays out.  

"Obviously, I want to play as soon as possible. I'm a competitor; I love to play the game. But for me, I think making sure I'm good healthwise is most important. So, as far as timeline and everything like that, we'll definitely figure it out sometime in the future. But right now, we just don't have those answers."

LeVert was off to a strong start to the 2020-21 NBA season for the Nets prior to being traded to the Pacers. He appeared in 12 games and produced averages of 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists.