Nets guard Caris LeVert is on track to begin participating in five-on-five practices soon, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who hears that there’s optimism LeVert will return to the court for Brooklyn before the All-Star break.
It’s great news for the Nets and for LeVert, who went down with a gruesome right foot injury in November. While it initially looked like we might not see him again until the 2019/20 season, the third-year guard was diagnosed with a dislocated foot, with the team indicating that he was expected to return before the end of the season.
Even based on that recovery timeline, it’s a little surprising that LeVert is already nearing a return. If he’s able to get back on the court before the All-Star break, he’ll only have missed about three months. He’s expected to practice with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, later this week, per Wojnarowski.
LeVert, 24, was off to a great start in 2018/19 before his injury, averaging 18.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, and .475/.311/.721 shooting in 14 games (29.7 MPG). While it remains to be seen whether he’ll pick up right where he left off, LeVert should help the Nets solidify a playoff spot, adding more talent to a squad that could be a tough out in the postseason.