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Pacers' Caris LeVert has surgery to treat kidney cancer

Published January 27, 2021, 12:00 AMNBA.com News Services
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The swingman will be out indefinitely as he recovers from his cancer treatment.

Indiana Pacers swingman Caris LeVert had successful surgery to treat a renal cell carcinoma of his left kidney, the team announced Tuesday. LeVert will be out indefinitely and is expected to make a full recovery from the procedure, the Pacers said in a statement.

LeVert was acquired by the Pacers in the four-team blockbuster trade that sent James Harden from the Houston Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets. During LeVert’s physical to complete the trade, an MRI revealed a mass on his left kidney.

He has not played in a game for the Pacers this season. LeVert was expected to replace Victor Oladipo (who was traded to Houston) and help replace forward T.J. Warren, who is out indefinitely after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

Indiana is also dealing with an injury to All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis, who exited Monday’s 129-114 win against the Toronto Raptors with a left knee contusion. Center Myles Turner, the NBA blocks leader, went down last weekend with a fractured right hand. Team officials said surgery won’t be necessary and Turner has played and started each of Indiana’s last three games.

In each of his first four NBA seasons, LeVert’s scoring totals have improved despite his largely coming off the bench during that span. He was averaging 18.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 2020-21, the last two categories being career bests.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.