Caris LeVert has cleared the biggest hurdle toward his return to action after thumb surgery: taking part in full contact workouts. He can’t come back fast enough for the Nets.
The Nets were historically bad in Thursday’s 94-82 loss to the Knicks, shooting 26.9 percent. LeVert, their second leading scorer when he suffered ligament damage in his thumb, has been out since Nov. 10.
“Hopefully he’ll help us not shoot 27 percent from the field,” Spencer Dinwiddie said. “We all know how dynamic Caris is.”
LeVert said he took part in full-contact practice with teammates on Tuesday and again Thursday morning. That would imply that his long-awaited return is right around the corner.
“It feels good to get out there and practice a bit with the guys. They’ve been playing extremely well, so I can’t wait to get out there with them,” LeVert said. “Just getting my legs up under me [is the next step]. … Just getting my rhythm, getting my legs back.”
But LeVert moving up to full contact, albeit with a wrap on his right thumb, is auspicious.
“Obviously I’m not playing in games yet, but I feel better each and every day,” LeVert said. “I’m right there.”
Reinstating LeVert, who is averaging 16.8 points, five boards and four assists, would be a huge lift.
“Getting closer,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Just needs some more, mix it up a little more with contact. He did a lot of contact [Thursday]. Probably need a couple more of those sessions until he and our medical team, performance team feel like he’s ready to go, but obviously getting much closer.”
But how much closer? After missing six weeks, could LeVert conceivably make his return during the Nets’ upcoming road trip to Houston, Minnesota and Dallas?
“I’m afraid I’m going to say yes and then it doesn’t happen, so I’m not going to go there,” Atkinson said. “I’d just say, he’s getting really close.”
Which of course raises the question: How will Atkinson use LeVert when he does finally come back?
In the short term, as LeVert builds up his minutes limit, he could fill the glaring need for a backup point guard.
“Yeah, he’s done it before. Completely comfortable with that. And yes that’s something we’ll think about,” Atkinson said. “That’s something we’re going to need, and he’s really good at it, so that’s going to help us when he comes back.”
Long term, once he’s at full strength, LeVert likely would go back into the lineup. But would it be at off-guard or at small forward?
“We haven’t really talked too much about it,” LeVert said. “But me and Spencer have great chemistry on the court. Obviously he’s playing at an All-Star level right now, so when I go back probably it’s just going to be to help him get off in any way and then just help the team.”
Kenny Atkinson dismissed a recent report that said Kyrie Irving would miss up to three more weeks with thoracic bursitis. The Nets head coach, however, said that when the star guard went down with a shoulder injury, he expected his recovery would be quicker than the month-and-a-half it already has taken.
“That’s a good question. In my personal opinion, yes,” said Atkinson, adding “I’d have to go in there [to speak to the performance team] and get a deeper report, but I do think these shoulders can be tricky.
“We’ve all been there. I’ve had one, and it’s tricky. You need it to feel right. I kind of understand what has happened here. Like I said, I really hope he’s back sooner rather than later.”
Irving injured his shoulder Nov. 12 during a loss at Utah and actually played two days later at Denver as the Nets downplayed the injury. He hasn’t played, practiced or talked to the press since.
(NBA rules require Irving to speak within one week of learning that he would miss at least two weeks. Thursday’s game versus the Knicks marked six weeks).
Although the Nets stated Irving had a shoulder impingement — a vague catch-all description — a recent report said he has thoracic bursitis. Atkinson dismissed that diagnosis, however, saying Irving’s condition and situation — still awaiting clearance to practice with contact — remain the same.
“I don’t want to comment on that report because, from what you tell me, whatever that report said, it’s not true,” Atkinson said. “We’re still in the same place we were last time I talked.
“The thing is we just haven’t gotten the contact yet with him. We’re in an on-court workout situation, but the contact just hasn’t been cleared. I think that’s the next hurdle. I wish I could tell you when that is. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.”
While Atkinson offered no timetable for Irving’s return, he said he wasn’t concerned about the All-Star guard needing offseason surgery.
“I don’t think we’re there,” Atkinson said. “I think we’re still in a rehab process. I don’t think we’re there.”
Atkinson said it took him a while to figure out how to best utilize DeAndre Jordan on offense, especially as a facilitator.
“It’s been frustrating for him in the beginning, trying to get his footing, how we play and what the heck we’re doing defensively and offensively. He’s starting to understand what we’re doing,” Atkinson said.
“The big thing for him is I’m also understanding his strengths. I don’t think in the beginning I did a great job of understanding where he’s strong, especially offensively, especially with that second unit. We’ve been juggling guys in and out, so that hasn’t been easy on him.”
The Nets were without Irving, Caris LeVert (thumb), Nic Claxton (hamstring) and David Nwaba (Achilles). … Two-way Henry Ellenson was with G-League Long Island and didn’t face his former team.