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In the wake of what appeared to be the devastating injury suffered by Caris LeVert on Monday night in Minnesota, the entire NBA community came together in an outpouring of prayers, love and respect for the star Nets budding.
But it turns out, can not be lost for LeVert this season. The Nets issued an update Tuesday afternoon that indicated LeVert suffered no break or fracture when he injured his lower right in a fall at Target Center. He is expected to return at full strength later this season. LeVert was diagnosed with a subtalar dislocation of the right foot. No surgery will be required.
"Fortunately, there is no evidence of fractures and only moderate ligament damage," Nets team orthopedist Dr. Martin O'Malley said in a statement. "While the optics of this injury may be more severe, surgery will not be required. Caris will begin a period of rehabilitation with the Nets' performance staff, which is expected to return to full strength and resume all activities.
O'Malley is the same surgeon who performed the last of LeVert's three foot surgeries when he was at Michigan.
Video of the gruesome injury LeVert suffered with 3.7 seconds in the first half had a profound impact on the target group. LeVert contested a shot by Timberwolves rookie Josh Okogie, and the two crashed to the floor, where LeVert's right footed and his lower right leg collapsed in grotesque fashion above the ankle.
Some of LeVert's teammates were in tears at the locker room at halftime, and the atmosphere in the postgame locker room was funereal. As veteran Jared Dudley said, "Devastating. Devastating to the team. He's such a good kid. Our best player, our go-to score. As athletes we're all human like everybody else. Everybody was down. "
18.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and excelling on defense as well. As the first draft pick by Sean Marks in 2016, LeVert is viewed as the cornerstone of the franchise rebuilding project. Coach Kenny Atkinson called "the heart and soul of our program."
When he went down, the Timberwolves obviously were shaved as they headed to their personal medical bench while tended to LeVert.
"It's really humbling," T-Wolves forward Anthony Tolliver said. "We just know that sick feeling. We definitely wanted to do what we could, and I got the guys together and we prayed for him. "
Check out social media showed the congregation praying for LeVert and the likes of LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Love, CJ McCollum, Eric Gordon, Kyle Kuzma and even retired Hall of Famer Bill Russell . Members of the crosstown rival Knicks feels their best wishes to LeVert, including Enes Kanter, Ron Baker and Kristaps Porzingis, who is recovering from knee surgery himself.
LeVert also heard from Nets teammates Quincy Acy, who said, "Come back stronger than ever, my brother," and Jeremy Lin If anyone could feel LeVert 's plight, it was Lin, who' s ruptured a patella tendon in the season opener a year ago, last year after two seasons-injury with the Nets.
Lin tweeted: "Noooo !! Not @CarisLeVert. . . one of the hardest workers I know. Ughhh. "
That visceral sound of a punch at the end of Lin's tweet pretty much summed up feelings around the NBA.
Porzingis tweeted: "This guy has been hooping !! It's so tough to see that happen. . . Prayers up for @CarisLeVert. Speedy recovery bro !! "
The Nets' Dudley, who is in his 11th NBA year expressed hope for LeVert's future. "Dudley said," The good thing about this, and I know he will. "
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