The Indiana Pacers announced that Caris LeVert successfully underwent surgery to remove kidney mass and is out indefinitely, though he is expected to make a full recovery.
“The surgery was performed by Dr. Jason Sprunger at Community North Hospital in Indianapolis,” the team said in a statement. “No further treatment is needed. Caris is expected to make a full recovery and will be out indefinitely. Further updates will be provided as needed.”
LeVert only discovered he had cancer, specifically renal cell carcinoma, a few weeks ago after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Pacers as a part of the James Harden deal. While undergoing a standard medical exam that teams perform after trades, the cancer was found, with an MRI results revealing the mass on his left kidney.
Without the trade, LeVert may not have known about having cancer, and he says he was not experiencing any symptoms when the doctors made the discovery. LeVert told ESPN that he felt like the trade may have saved his life.
“I was playing in games. I hadn’t missed any games this season yet. I was feeling 100 percent healthy,” LeVert said. “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.”
LeVert said that he hopes to get back on the court as soon as possible but knows he must focus on getting healthy first, as his overall health is much more important than his basketball career.
