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Pacers' Caris LeVert expected to make full recovery after surgery to remove kidney mass

Caris LeVert wasn’t on the bench for the Indiana Pacers during their Monday night game against the Toronto Raptors, and now we know why: he’d just had surgery. The Pacers announced on Tuesday that LeVert underwent surgery on Monday to remove a mass on his left kidney. The surgery was successful and LeVert is expected to make a full recovery.

Renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer. With the success of the surgery, LeVert won’t need any additional treatment.

Trade to Pacers led to discovery

A few weeks ago, when he was a member of the Brooklyn Nets, LeVert had no idea there was anything wrong with him. It wasn’t until he was traded to the Pacers as part of the James Harden deal that his cancer came to light. LeVert had an MRI as part of the standard trade medical exam, and the results revealed that he had a mass on his left kidney.

LeVert told ESPN shortly after the discovery that he feels the trade may have saved his life.

“I didn’t have any symptoms. I was playing in games. I hadn’t missed any games this season yet. I was feeling 100 percent healthy,” LeVert said Tuesday, via ESPN. “So, in a way, this trade definitely showed and revealed what was going on in my body, so I’m definitely looking at it from that side and definitely humbled to know that this trade could’ve possibly saved me in the long run.”

LeVert will be out indefinitely as he recovers from surgery.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 10: Caris LeVert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Barclays Center on January 10, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Pacers' Caris LeVert is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing cancer surgery on Monday. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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