Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert suffered a gruesome injury on Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
LeVert, the 20th overall pick of the 2016 draft, collided with Jeff Teague with just seconds left in the first half, coming down hard on his right leg. The injury immediately appeared very serious, as LeVert covered his face in pain while medics attended to him.
Players from both teams huddled together, while a stunned silence fell over the Target Center.
"There were really just no words," Nets forward Joe Harris was quoted as saying by Associated Press. "We didn't talk even when we came in at halftime. There's nothing really to be said. You could just feel it, the emotions from everybody. Guys were crying coming in, it was really that horrific just to see."
The extent of LeVert's injury was not immediately known but the Nets confirmed the 24-year-old was taken to a hospital in Minneapolis for a full evaluation.
The incident brought up memories of similarly gruesome injuries, such as the ones Paul George and Gordon Hayward suffered in 2014 and in the first game of last season, respectively.
Timberwolves point guard Derrick Rose was on the court for both of those injuries and also witnessed the LeVert incident.
"It's always terrible to see something like that," Rose, who has undergone four separate knee surgeries in his career, was quoted as saying by ESPN.
Rose added LeVert would be in his prayers. He was not the only NBA player to send his best wishes to the unfortunate Nets guard.
Young Fella prayers to you! Speedy recovery and even stronger impact coming soon for sure! 🙏🏾 @CarisLeVert
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 13, 2018
Prayers out to @CarisLeVert!!! Been watchin him play this season and I’ve loved every bit of it! Hate to see him get injured 🙏🏾
— Chris Paul (@CP3) November 13, 2018
God bless you youngin tough road ahead but we’re here to help lift you @CarisLeVert ! You know how to reach me 🙏🏾
— Paul George (@Yg_Trece) November 13, 2018
Prayers up for @CarisLeVert ....was killing this year too smh ðŸ™
— kuz (@kylekuzma) November 13, 2018
I HATE injuries! Prayers up for Caris LeVert!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) November 13, 2018
Noooo!! Not @CarisLeVert ... one of the hardest workers I know. Ughhh 🙏🏼🙏🏼
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) November 13, 2018
Just heard the horrible news about @BrooklynNets @CarisLeVert devastating leg injury against the @Timberwolves Our prayers are with him 🙏🏾Wishing him a swift recovery! @nba #getbettersoon
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) November 13, 2018
Prayers up bro @CarisLeVert 🙏🏽
— Robert Covington (@Holla_At_Rob33) November 13, 2018
Prayers up for @CarisLeVert 🙏🏽. An amazing player that will only come back stronger.
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) November 13, 2018
Prayers for Caris LeVert. Hate to see this. Having a hell of a season. Keep strong 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) November 13, 2018
LeVert has overcome serious injuries in his career already. His junior and senior years at Michigan were both curtailed by injuries and he was forced to sit out part of his rookie campaign in the NBA as he recovered from foot surgery.
However, the Ohio native had beaten the issues to establish himself as one of the most promising young players in the NBA this season. He arrived into Monday night's fixture averaging 19 points, 3.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. LeVert had 10 points, five assists and four rebounds at the time he was taken off the court.
Without him, the Nets lost 120-113 and slid to 6-8 after a second consecutive defeat. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, remain second-bottom in the Western Conference with a 5-9 record, but have at least managed to interrupt a five-game losing streak.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
