First-year head coach Steve Nash has the enviable task of picking his first five from a very deep Brooklyn Nets roster. While Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will definitely be starters, Nash is unsure of swingman Caris LeVert. He believes that LeVert is good at either being part of the starting line up or leading the second unit, much like San Antonio Spurs icon Manu Ginobili.
Ahead of the Nets' preseason match between the Nets and the Washington Wizards, Nash shared his evaluation and future plans regarding LeVert.
“Still working through it. Caris is a starter. Will he start for us? I’m not sure yet,” Nash said, per Kristian Winfield of the NY Daily News. “He’s so good with the ball in his hands that there’s a case to be made that he plays that (Manu) Ginobili role.”
Throughout his professional basketball career, LeVert has been in and out of the starting lineup. But Nash, reiterating that he views LeVert as a Nets starter, noted how good the 26-year-old is with the ball. And he sees LeVert leading the second unit, much like Ginobili during his stint with the Spurs.
“He’s clearly a starter,” Nash said of LeVert. “Manu played in All-Star Games. Start on the bench and run the second unit, closed games. So we’ll see how it goes.
“There is a thought though that he could have more reps with the ball in his hands if he captains the second unit for two stretches in a game, then plays with the starters at moments or to close. All that stuff is to be figured out but it’s great decisions for a coach to have.”
Last season, LeVert averaged 18.7 points (career-high), 4.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists across 29.6 minutes for Brooklyn.
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