Caris LeVert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Caris LeVert

LeVert with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022
No. 3 – Cleveland Cavaliers
Shooting guard / small forward
Personal information
Born	(1994-08-25) August 25, 1994 (age 30) Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
High school	Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio)
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
College	Michigan (2012–2016)
NBA Draft	2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20th overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Pro career	2016–present
League	NBA
Career history
2016–2021	Brooklyn Nets
2021–2022	Indiana Pacers
2022–present	Cleveland Cavaliers
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Big Ten (2014)

Caris Coleman LeVert (born August 25, 1994) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines.

As a freshman, he played a key role for the Michigan team. They reached the championship game in the 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. In his second year, he became a regular starter. He was even named a second-team All-Big Ten player. His later college seasons were affected by injuries. LeVert was first drafted by the Indiana Pacers. However, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets on draft night. He later returned to the Pacers in 2021. In 2022, he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Early Life and High School

Caris LeVert grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He later moved to Pickerington, Ohio when he was in second grade. In high school, he played basketball for Pickerington High School Central. As a senior, he helped his team win the 2012 OHSAA Division I state championship.

LeVert was not a highly recruited player in high school. He first decided to play for the Ohio Bobcats program. But when their coach left for another team, LeVert chose to play for Michigan instead.

College Basketball Career

LeVert joined the Michigan Wolverines in 2012. The team had been very successful the year before.

Freshman Season at Michigan

LeVert defending against VCU in the 2013 NCAA basketball tournament

When LeVert started at Michigan, he weighed about 162 pounds. He didn't play in the first six games of his freshman year. But his coach, John Beilein, saw his potential as a defender. So, LeVert started playing instead of sitting out the season.

He made his first start on December 29, 2012. That night, he scored 9 points and had 5 assists. He averaged 2.3 points per game in his first year. He helped Michigan reach the Final Four in the NCAA tournament.

Sophomore Season Success

LeVert in the 2013–14 Big Ten season opener against Minnesota

In the summer of 2013, LeVert worked hard to improve his game. He started his sophomore season strong. He scored a career-high 17 points in the first game. Later, he scored 24 points twice in November and December.

On January 18, 2014, Michigan beat Wisconsin on the road. This was a big win for the team. LeVert had 20 points and 4 steals in that game. He got his first "double-double" (double digits in two stats) on January 30. He had 11 rebounds and 14 points. Michigan won its first outright Big Ten Conference championship since 1986. LeVert was named to the All-Big Ten second team.

After the season, LeVert had surgery on his foot. He was expected to be out for a few months.

Junior Season and Injury

LeVert and teammate Derrick Walton were sidelined in January 2015

Before his junior season, LeVert was named a preseason All-Big Ten player. Many sports experts also picked him for various All-American teams. He was even considered a top player for national awards.

LeVert started the season strong. He had a career-high 9 assists in November. On December 6, he scored a career-high 32 points. However, on January 17, he reinjured his foot. This injury ended his season. At the time, LeVert led his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. He decided to return for his senior year to improve his skills.

Senior Season and Final Injury

LeVert was again named a preseason All-Big Ten player for his senior year. He was the fourth Michigan player to get this award multiple times. He started the season well, scoring 18 points in the first game. On December 15, he achieved a "triple-double." He had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. This was a rare achievement for a Michigan player.

However, LeVert missed games in January due to a leg injury. On March 1, his team announced that the injury would end his college career. He had another surgery on his left foot. Despite the injuries, he was invited to the NBA Draft Combine.

Professional Basketball Career

Brooklyn Nets (2016–2021)

Starting in the NBA

The 2016 NBA draft was a big moment for LeVert. He was picked 20th overall by the Indiana Pacers. But his rights were quickly traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He signed his first NBA contract in July 2016.

LeVert missed the start of his first season due to his foot injury. He made his NBA debut on December 7, 2016. He scored his first NBA points on December 10. On April 6, he scored 20 points for the first time in an NBA game.

Growing as a Player

In the 2017–18 season, LeVert got more playing time. He had a great game on December 7, 2017. He scored 21 points and had 10 assists. This was his first NBA "double-double." He also set a career high with 22 points later that month.

In the 2018–19 season, LeVert continued to improve. He scored a career-high 27 points in the first game. Two days later, he set a new high with 28 points. He even hit a game-winning shot with one second left. On November 12, 2018, LeVert suffered a serious leg injury. This kept him out for 42 games. He returned on February 8, 2019. In the playoffs, he scored 23 points in his first game.

Career Highs and a Triple-Double

On August 26, 2019, LeVert signed a new contract with the Nets. On March 3, 2020, he had an amazing game. He scored a career-high 51 points! He scored 37 of those points in the fourth quarter and overtime. This helped the Nets win a big comeback game. Two games later, he recorded his first NBA "triple-double." He had 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

On January 8, 2021, LeVert scored 43 points. He also made a career-best 7 three-point shots in that game.

Indiana Pacers (2021–2022)

On January 16, 2021, LeVert was traded to the Indiana Pacers. This was part of a big trade involving several teams. During a medical check for the trade, doctors found a small mass on his left kidney. He had surgery to remove it, and it was successful. He made a full recovery and didn't need more treatment.

On March 13, LeVert made his debut for the Pacers. He scored 13 points in the win. He averaged almost 19 points per game before being traded again.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2022–present)

On February 6, 2022, LeVert was traded to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. He made his Cavaliers debut on February 9, scoring 11 points. On October 28, 2022, he scored a season-high 41 points. He and teammate Donovan Mitchell both scored over 40 points in that game. This was the first time two Cavaliers players did that since LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in 2016.

On July 6, 2023, LeVert signed a new contract with Cleveland. On February 28, 2024, he set a new career high for assists in a regular season game.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Play-in

Playoffs

College

Personal Life

Caris LeVert is the son of Kim and Darryl Wayne LeVert. He has a younger brother named Darryl Marcus. His mother is a first-grade teacher. His father passed away in 2010. LeVert comes from a musical family. He is a distant cousin of Eddie LeVert, a famous singer from the band The O'Jays.

See also

In Spanish: Caris LeVert para niños