Since Caris LeVert’s arrival in Cleveland in a Deadline deal for Ricky Rubio back in 2022, he’s been the squad’s Swiss Army Knife – at some point playing about every role besides starting center.
But this year, his role has been singular – the squad’s first backcourt option off the bench – and he wrapped up his 8th NBA regular season as one of the league’s best. And almost inarguably the top reserve in the Eastern Conference.
In 58 appearances off the bench this year, LeVert averaged a Conference-best 13.6ppg – (an even 14.0ppg overall) –and was the only NBA reserve to finish among the Top 3 among second unit guys in points (3rd), assists (4.8apg, 3rd) and steals (1.09spg, 2nd).
The Columbus native posted 14 games with at least 10 points, five boards and five assists – tops among all NBA reserves – tied a career-best with six double-doubles and was the only bench player in the league this year to average at least 13.0 points, 3.0 boards, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals per.
As he did last season, LeVert also finished the year off strong. Over a nine-game stretch in March, he handed out at least six assists in nine straight games (averaging 8.7apg over that stretch) and closed the campaign netting double-figures in his last seven outings (averaging 17.9ppg over that stretch).
In a February matchup with the Bulls, the former Wolverine became the first player in NBA history to at least 14 points, 15 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks off the bench. He started one game before mid-March and scored 22 points in the first quarter.
LeVert is also a throwback in his aggressiveness around the rim, attempting a career-high 201 free throws, third-best mark on the Cavs this year.
Throughout the grind of an 82-game season, guys like Caris LeVert cover up a lot of holes. In an injury-plagued season, he’s saved Cleveland’s bacon on more than a few nights. As the Wine & Gold gear up for their First Round matchup with the Magic, Cavs.com sat down with the veteran sixth man …
It’s such a three-point shooting league these days, but you’re a guy who still consistently attacks the rim. What’s your mindset?
Caris LeVert: I think for me, I’m just trying to find the gaps in the defense, first and foremost. Then, just trying to get us easy baskets.
I know when I get into paint, either I'll have a chance to get my own or – against a team like the Magic that kind of packs the paint – we'll get an opportunity to shoot threes, get opportunities to get layups, dunks. It just collapses the defense, and it puts a lot of pressure on the defense.
I know for us, we've been one of the top defensive teams since I've been here, and the point of emphasis is keeping guys out of the paint. So, if I can be a guy who can get in the paint offensively, that kind of just puts a lot of pressure on their defense.
And yet you’ve been durable – 74 games last year, 68 this year. How’ve you been able to take the pounding and stay healthy?
LeVert: I put an onus on myself to take care of my body every day, but it definitely can take a toll on you, for sure.
But you don't do it recklessly. You pick your points in the game where we may need a basket, or we may need free throws.
Sometimes, the paint is just open. Or maybe it's a game like against – usually the West Coast teams don't necessarily pack the paint and the Pacers are a team in the East coast who don't – so it depends on the circumstance. But it definitely can take a toll on you just got to take care of your body.
It seems like you frequently get the last shot of the quarter. Is that a coincidence or by design?
LeVert: I think a lot of times at the end of quarter and at the end of shot-clocks, guys who can create their own (shot), the ball kind of just finds them – and I embrace it. A lot of guys don't really embrace it because it might mess up your field goal percentage, know what I mean? So, I'm usually the guy who embraces those moments, and I can go get a shot at any time.
So, I like those moments.
Aside from you, the Cavs bench this year has featured Georges Niang, Sam Merrill, Isaac Okoro, etc. Does the overall depth keep you out of the Sixth Man conversation and how much would that award mean to you?
Our team is more stacked than, I don't even know who else’s is up for (Sixth Man), but if we just go player-by-player, we have more talent here than these other teams.
I'm happy to be here and play on a winning team and kind of adjust my game and still be able to be effective. I think that's really fun for me. So, getting the recognition would be cool, but I think for me, I'm at the point in my career where I want to win.
As a veteran who’s seen the postseason before you got here and with the Cavs last year, where’s this team’s head at right now?
LeVert: We're super-focused. We're excited.
I think we’re energized right now. We're ready for this opportunity. We know what's at stake and we're kind of just, we're not even really thinking about last year, you know what I mean? We know that last year happened, we know that this season happened, but we know that this is a new season right now.
It's a new opportunity and I think we're just ready to attack it, head-first.
You only appeared in one of the four meetings against Orlando this year, but you’ve seen them many times before. What’s your scouting report?
LeVert: They have a great size. Their two best players are obviously Franz Wagner and Paolo (Banchero), who are really big for their position. Paolo is very skilled and versatile. And Franz is as well.
I think we're a team who lives on turnovers and offensive rebounds. So, for us, it'll be super-important to take care of the basketball, box out, do the little things. And I think if you play good defense and you make them score in a half court setting, I think our defense will kind of take over.
I think offensively, for us, they like to pack the paint, so we'll get a lot of chances to make corner threes. And I think that they’re best in the half court. So, if you push the pace, we'll get a good opportunity to get some easy baskets.
Last question: Who will talk more (trash) in the series, Georges Niang or Mo Wagner?
LeVert: (laughs) Oohh, it’s going to be close! It's going to be real close.
It's going to be close, man. I know those guys are friends outside of the game. We have a lot of mutual friends, actually. But when we step between those lines, both of those guys are killers. So, it'll be a fun series for that.
Mo's been like that, too. I've known him since he was 16 years old. He's always been like that, just super-competitive.
And he's had a great season too. I'm happy for him. He’ll be a good test for us, a good test for our bigs, because he’s got great intensity. We’re definitely going to have to meet force with force.
But that's Mo. He's one of ‘those’ dudes. You got to SHOW him.