The Detroit Pistons left for their three-game Western Conference road trip with a fairly healthy roster, but their remains a question mark around veteran wing Caris LeVert.
The first-year Piston missed his 14th game of the season on Tuesday, his fourth straight due to an undisclosed illness. A string of lower-body ailments impacted the first few months of his time with the roster, missing three consecutive games in October and four at the turn of the New Year alongside resting some games in between.
LeVert has been present at recent practices and took part in a pregame warmup as recently as Sunday, but still doesn’t seem to have a specific return in sight.
“He’s improving but it’s just slow,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before [Detroit’s 109-107 win over the Denver Nuggets](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2026/01/tobias-harris-features-in-1000th-game-as-pistons-survive-late-run-from-nuggets.html) on Tuesday. “We’re always looking to take care of our guys and make sure they’re right. We’ll just take our time and when he’s ready to go he’ll be out there.”
There’s not much to glean from Bickerstaff’s latest update as it’s clear he’s able to participate with some physical activity but not ready for the team to get back out on the court.
The Pistons have had a few players — Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart and Ron Holland — deal with illness recently, but their absence was limited to a game or two, if any.
LeVert, 31, signed a two-year contract with the Pistons last offseason, reuniting with Bickerstaff after their shared time with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The start-stop nature of the season and a smaller role within Detroit’s rotation have LeVert posting career-lows in points (7.9) and rebounds (1.8), while averaging 2.8 assists per game, LeVert’s lowest mark since his rookie year.
When able to get on the court, LeVert is delivering at a very high level defensively. He is hitting career bests for steal and block percentage as part of the NBA’s most disruptive defensive unit. He’s also a defended field goal percentage of 33.7% on three-point shots, fourth on the team among Pistons who have played in 30 games.
LeVert is one of the most versatile players on the Detroit roster, but he’s missed so many games this season, it’s been difficult to rely on any consistency from his production.
The Pistons don’t seem to be in a rush bringing him back as they remain atop the Eastern Conference. But the uncertainty of his availability could impact the near future in how Detroit proceeds in the approaching Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.