The Brooklyn Nets and its fans patience will finally pay off in the 2018-2019 NBA season. The Michigan product Caris Levert will break out and become a star.
Levert was considered a potential lottery pick in the 2016 NBA draft. Injuries scared prospective teams away, and thats where the Nets swooped in. Brooklyn traded it’s then versatile forward Thaddeus Young to the Indiana Pacers for the rights to the 20th overall pick. The rest is history.
Levert has impressed in his first two seasons in Brooklyn. He has had glimpses of stardom. However, The young prospect has yet to perform at a high level consistently to this point in his career.
The 24 year old was drafted based on his “high ceiling.” Entering his third year in the pro’s, just one year away from a contract season, the organization is expecting big things.
Levert performed well last season. He averaged 12.3 points, 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds. Levert is special in that he can play point guard, shooting guard, and small forward. In an era of postionless basketball in the NBA, his skill set is one that is highly valued.
March proved to be Levert’s best month last season. He avergaed 14.4, 4.6 assists and 4 rebounds, all while shooting nearly 40 percent from downtown. His shooting imporved drastically post all-star break, hitting on 37.3 percent of his attempts from the great beyond.
Levert operates best in front of the three point line. He has the ability to rise up from anywhere inside the arc. The guard has a knack for driving the ball to the hole at a high level. Levert is one of the Nets best finishers, he has the ability to finish with contact and with both hands. Levert has great footwork. He is able to maneuver his way to the basket for easy buckets.
The soon to be third year pro is also one of the Nets best defenders. Levert is very long and has active hands in the passing lane. He uses all of his 6’7 frame to cover large areas of the court. He is a steal threat every trip down the floor. His ability to handle the ball allows him to turn steals into transition points. Last season Levert averaged 1.2 steals for the Nets.
In 2017, Levert came off the bench for Kenny Atkinson and the Nets. He fully embraced his role as a spark plug. Brooklyn expected him to provide instant offsense and stuff the stat sheet off the bench. This season, expect Levert to fill a larger role for the Nets.
With the Nets position heavy at the wing, The majority of Levert’s minutes will come at shooting guard. Even if Levert continues to come off the bench, his role will be more defined. He will be the number one option off the bench to play two guard.
Levert has the talent to be a stud. The one obstacle in his way is health. Injuries have plagued Levert up to this point in his young career. Levert missed 11 games last season to a multitude of injuries including a groin strain, knee sprain, concussion and foot tendinitis.
Levert’s injury history dates back to his time with Michigan. He missed a majority of his senior season with the Wolverines after being sidelined due to foot surgery.
The Nets look to improve as a team this upcoming season. It is a huge season, not only for Brooklyn but for Caris Levert.
Brooklyn has until October 31st to decide whether or not to pick up the option on Levert’s contract for next year. In all likleyhood the Nets will, but Levert must prove he belongs.
Levert will prove to Sean Marks and to Brooklyn that he belongs in the Nets future plans. He has the intangibles to be a star. Lets see if Levert can put it all together in his third season as a pro.