Caris LeVert Bio
Caris Coleman LeVert is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and playing the shooting guard position, LeVert has built a reputation as a versatile scorer and perimeter playmaker across nearly a decade in the league. He is most recognized for his time with the Brooklyn Nets, where he emerged as a reliable scoring option, and for his journeyman professionalism across multiple franchises.
LeVert was originally selected by the Indiana Pacers in the 2016 NBA Draft but was traded on draft night to the Brooklyn Nets. Since then, he has played for the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Atlanta Hawks, before signing with the Detroit Pistons in July 2025. He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines, where he earned Second-team All-Big Ten honors and became the fourth player in program history to record a triple-double.
Early Life and Background
Caris Coleman LeVert was born on August 25, 1994, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. He grew up in Columbus before his family moved to Pickerington, Ohio, during his second grade year. He attended Pickerington High School Central, where he starred on the basketball court and helped lead the team to a 26–2 record and the 2012 OHSAA Division I state championship during his senior season. His play that year earned him All-Ohio Second Team honors from the Associated Press, along with the Columbus Dispatch Metro Player of the Year award.
LeVert was not heavily recruited in high school, with his only official visit being to Alabama State. He originally committed to play for John Groce and the Ohio Bobcats men’s basketball program in November 2011. However, when Groce was hired as head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball program in March 2012, LeVert withdrew his commitment and reopened his recruitment.
LeVert is the son of Kim LeVert and the late Darryl Wayne LeVert. His mother works as a first grade teacher for Columbus City Schools, while his late father was a graphic designer who passed away in April 2010 at the age of 46. He also has a brother, Darryl Marcus, who is eleven months younger and played college basketball at Connors State College. Caris was named after his grandfather, who served as president of the Johnstown, Ohio school board. The family also has a notable musical connection, as Caris is the third cousin of Eddie LeVert, the lead vocalist of the classic R&B group the O’Jays.
Path to the NBA
Following the coaching change at Ohio, LeVert committed to John Beilein and the Michigan Wolverines in March 2012, joining a recruiting class that included Mitch McGary, Nik Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III, and Spike Albrecht. The class helped Michigan become the fifth-best recruiting class in the country that year. LeVert arrived on campus weighing 162 pounds and spent his freshman season developing as a perimeter defender and rotation player behind established stars Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Stauskas. He made his collegiate debut on December 1, 2012, and went on to play a role in Michigan’s run to the 2013 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament Final Four.
As a sophomore in 2013–14, LeVert emerged as a key contributor, opening the season with 17 points against UMass Lowell and posting 24-point efforts against South Carolina State and Duke. He helped Michigan win its first outright Big Ten Conference championship since 1985–86 and earned Second-team All-Big Ten recognition from both the coaches and media. Following the season, he underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot.
LeVert’s junior season ended prematurely in January 2015 when he reinjured the same foot. He chose to return for his senior year rather than enter the draft with a potentially diminished stock. During his senior season, he became the fourth player in Michigan program history to record a triple-double, posting 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against Northern Kentucky on December 15, 2015. His college career ended with another foot surgery in March 2016, and he entered the 2016 NBA Draft as a projected second-round pick before sliding into the first round.
Caris LeVert Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
LeVert was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers, becoming the fifth Wolverine taken in the first round since 2013. His draft rights were traded to the Brooklyn Nets on July 7, 2016, in exchange for Thaddeus Young. After missing summer league and preseason while continuing to rehab his foot, he made his NBA debut on December 7, 2016, against the Denver Nuggets, posting 3 steals in 9 minutes. He scored his first NBA points on December 10, 2016, against the San Antonio Spurs on a reverse layup assisted by Brook Lopez.
LeVert appeared in 57 games during his rookie season, eventually working his way into the starting lineup. He recorded his first 20-point performance on April 6, 2017, against the Orlando Magic and finished the season 12th in NBA All-Rookie team voting, just missing a spot on the 10-man squad despite the missed time.
Brooklyn Nets Breakthrough (2017–2021)
LeVert’s role expanded significantly in 2017–18 after injuries to Jeremy Lin opened a spot in the starting lineup. On October 22, 2017, he entered the starting lineup and posted 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals against the Atlanta Hawks. He went on to record his first NBA double-double on December 7, 2017, with 21 points and 10 assists against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Mexico City. By the end of the season, he had become the primary backup point guard behind Spencer Dinwiddie and was praised for his defensive effort against stars such as Russell Westbrook and Devin Booker.
The 2018–19 season was LeVert’s breakout campaign. He opened the year with 27 points against the Detroit Pistons, then set a career high with 28 points against the New York Knicks two days later, hitting the winning basket over former Michigan teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. with one second remaining. On November 12, 2018, he suffered a severe right leg injury later confirmed as a subtalar dislocation, ending a stretch in which he was leading the team with 19 points per game. After missing 42 games, he returned in February 2019 and scored 23 points in the Nets’ first-round playoff win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
LeVert signed a three-year, $52.5 million contract extension with the Nets on August 26, 2019, then posted career highs of 37 points on February 8, 2020, and 51 points on March 3, 2020, against the Boston Celtics. The 51-point effort included 37 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, leading Brooklyn to a 129–120 comeback victory. He completed his first triple-double in the NBA on March 6, 2020, with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against the San Antonio Spurs. During the 2020 NBA Bubble, he also posted 15 assists in a playoff game against the Toronto Raptors.
Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers Era (2021–2025)
On January 16, 2021, LeVert was traded to the Indiana Pacers in a four-team deal that sent James Harden to Brooklyn and Victor Oladipo to Houston. Shortly after the trade, an MRI revealed a small mass on his left kidney. He underwent successful surgery on January 25, 2021, to remove the mass, which was confirmed as renal cell carcinoma. After his recovery, he made his Pacers debut on March 13, 2021, recording 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in a win over the Phoenix Suns.
On February 6, 2022, LeVert was traded to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Ricky Rubio and draft considerations. He made his Cavaliers debut on February 9, 2022, scoring 11 points off the bench in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. On October 28, 2022, he scored a season-high 41 points in a 132–123 overtime win over the Boston Celtics, joining Donovan Mitchell as the first Cavaliers duo to each score 40 points in a game since LeBron James and Kyrie Irving accomplished the feat in the 2016 NBA Finals. He re-signed with Cleveland on a two-year, $32 million contract in July 2023.
Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons Era (2025–Present)
On February 6, 2025, LeVert was traded, along with Georges Niang, three second-round picks, and two pick swaps, to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for De’Andre Hunter. With the Hawks, he hit a game-winning buzzer beater against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 3, 2025, finishing with 25 points off the bench. He posted a season-high 31 points on April 11, 2025, against the Philadelphia 76ers.
On July 8, 2025, LeVert signed a two-year, $29 million contract with the Detroit Pistons, reuniting him with former Cavaliers head coach J. B. Bickerstaff. He went on to post a playoff season-high 24 points during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Driving Style and Strengths
LeVert is known for his length and versatility on the wing, using his 6-foot-7 frame to defend multiple positions and create matchup problems as a scorer. He developed a strong pick-and-roll game during his time as a backup point guard in Brooklyn and has continued to refine his three-point shooting, posting a career-best 7 three-pointers against the Memphis Grizzlies in January 2021. His craft as a midrange scorer and his poise in late-game situations have made him a reliable closer at multiple stops in his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
LeVert’s career has been marked by a series of dramatic comebacks. He returned from a severe right leg dislocation in 2018, recovered from renal cell carcinoma surgery in 2021, and bounced back from multiple foot surgeries earlier in his career. He posted a career-high 51 points against the Boston Celtics on March 3, 2020, became the fourth Michigan player to record a triple-double in 2015, and delivered a buzzer-beating win for the Atlanta Hawks in March 2025.
Caris LeVert Career Wins
Across his NBA career, Caris LeVert has notched a number of standout individual performances and team victories. While team win totals shift season to season, his individual milestones include scoring highs of 51 points, 43 points, 41 points, 37 points, and 32 points at various stops. He has earned weekly conference recognition and All-Big Ten honors at the college level, and he has been a dependable rotation player for five different NBA franchises.
NBA and College Highlights
LeVert’s most celebrated NBA moments include his 51-point performance against the Boston Celtics on March 3, 2020, and his 43-point effort against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 8, 2021. He also recorded 41 points alongside Donovan Mitchell in a 132–123 overtime win over the Boston Celtics on October 28, 2022. At Michigan, he was named Second-team All-Big Ten in 2014, became a Preseason All-American the following year, and helped the Wolverines win the 2013–14 Big Ten championship.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his NBA accomplishments, LeVert led Pickerington Central to a 26–2 record and the 2012 OHSAA Division I state championship during his senior year of high school. He was the 2012 Columbus Dispatch Metro Player of the Year and was inducted into his high school’s basketball legacy after leading one of the best seasons in program history.
Caris LeVert Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Caris LeVert comes from a tight-knit Columbus, Ohio family with deep roots in both education and music. His mother, Kim LeVert, is a first grade teacher with Columbus City Schools, and his late father, Darryl Wayne LeVert, was a graphic designer who passed away in April 2010 at the age of 46. His younger brother, Darryl Marcus LeVert, played college basketball at Connors State College, continuing the family’s athletic tradition. Caris was named after his grandfather, who served as president of the Johnstown, Ohio school board.
The LeVert family also has a notable musical heritage. Caris is the third cousin of Eddie LeVert, the lead vocalist of the classic R&B group the O’Jays. Eddie’s sons include singers Gerald LeVert of LSG and members of the group LeVert, including Sean LeVert, making the LeVert family one with a long-standing presence in American music and basketball.
Personal Life
Outside of basketball, LeVert is known for his resilience and openness about the health challenges he has faced during his career. After being diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma in January 2021, he has spoken about how the trade that brought him to Indiana may have saved his life, since the condition was discovered during a routine medical evaluation. He has continued to use his platform to raise awareness about kidney health and the importance of early detection. He remains close to his family in Ohio and his brother Darryl Marcus.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marked a transitional chapter for Caris LeVert, beginning with his trade to the Atlanta Hawks on February 6, 2025. Splitting time between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Hawks during the regular season, he averaged double-digit scoring and provided veteran scoring punch off the bench. His most memorable moment in a Hawks uniform came on March 3, 2025, when he hit a game-winning buzzer beater against the Memphis Grizzlies, finishing with 25 points. He later posted a season-high 31 points on April 11, 2025, against the Philadelphia 76ers, capping a strong individual campaign.
On July 8, 2025, LeVert signed a two-year, $29 million contract with the Detroit Pistons, reuniting him with former Cavaliers head coach J. B. Bickerstaff. He adapted quickly to his new role, serving as a scoring wing off the bench and posting a 24-point playoff effort during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. His contract runs through the 2026–27 NBA season, and his continued production off the bench has made him a valuable secondary creator for the Pistons.
Looking ahead, LeVert is expected to remain a key rotation piece for the Pistons as the team builds around its young core. His experience, scoring versatility, and ability to guard multiple positions provide head coach J. B. Bickerstaff with a reliable veteran option in high-leverage situations. With a multi-year contract in place, LeVert’s outlook in Detroit centers on continuing his role as a steady scoring wing and mentor in the locker room.
