DETROIT — Veteran wing Caris LeVert returned for the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night after missing seven straight games due to an undisclosed illness.
After getting over 20 minutes of playing time in [Detroit’s win over the Denver Nuggets](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2026/02/pistons-outlast-jokic-led-nuggets-to-jump-start-winning-streak.html), LeVert revealed exclusively to MLive that he’s been out due to showing symptoms of vertigo.
“I’m still kind of going through it,” LeVert said. “It’s been a process that’s still going on, but it’s getting better. It’s at a point where I feel like I can still play and I think, from what we’re hearing, it’s good to get the exposure of playing.”
Vertigo is an abnormal sensation of motion, according to the the National Institutes of Health, which can cause an individual to feel like their surroundings are spinning when they aren’t.
It is commonly associated with inner ear issues that make someone feel dizzy and off-balance.
Some former NBA players including Hall of Famer Pau Gasol, Tyler Hansbrough and Ante Zizic all had bouts with vertigo amid their careers.
Before Tuesday’s outing, LeVert last played on Jan. 19. Despite carrying an illness designation since, he was frequently present at shootarounds and during pre-game warmups.
Even though LeVert felt great being back with his team contributing to a win, getting back on the court has been its own challenge as the situation is actively addressed.
“It’s definitely just hard to compete. I think everyday life is fine. Obviously, you have symptoms of it, but when you go out there and you’re turning your head constantly and running up and down, it gets a little difficult,” LeVert said. “But like I said, it’s something that we’re kind of working through right now and hopefully will be resolved soon.”
Vertigo isn’t necessarily something that requires medical intervention, some people experience it once and never have it again. It all depends on what the underlying cause of the symptoms are, which can sometimes go unknown.
While there were no specifics of the cause shared by LeVert, Bickerstaff is always preaching patience when it comes to players returning from ailments. LeVert’s playing time as he gets acclimated back with the team will likely reflect that, particularly as the Pistons play a back-to-back Thursday and Friday.
“It’s always about monitoring him,” Bickerstaff said pre-game. “Guys coming back off of injury or illness, we got to make sure that they’re right and that we’re patient with them so that we can build something for the long term.”
Bickerstaff took the opportunity before the game to double down on LeVert’s potential to impact the Pistons long term as he continues playing out the two-year deal he signed during the offseason.
With Detroit being a prime candidate to make moves at this week’s NBA trade deadline, LeVert’s name has swirled around trade rumors if the Pistons needed to ship off some salary to make a splashy move.
Detroit completed a [trade sending Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2026/02/pistons-trade-jaden-ivey-to-the-bulls-as-part-of-three-team-deal.html) and might not be done. But Bickerstaff backed LeVert as part of what the Pistons will do beyond the Thursday afternoon deadline.
“We expect Caris to be a big part of what we’re doing down the stretch,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s important that we give him an opportunity and give him the right runway so that he can get there.”
There wasn’t anything too special from LeVert on Tuesday night. He scored four points on 2-of-6 shooting while recording three assists, two rebounds and a steal while getting his feet wet again.
It’s been a start-stop season for LeVert as he’s had a string of lower-body injuries that led to missing 10 of the first 40 games this season. He’s averaging a career-low 7.9 points per game on 43.1% shooting in fewer than 20 minutes per appearance.
Now in his 10th NBA season, including previous time spent with Bickerstaff on the Cleveland Cavaliers, he’s aware of his place on the team and the faith Bickerstaff has in him.
“I know my value in this league. Obviously, J.B. does, too. It’s a big reason why I’m here,” LeVert said. “I’m excited for the second half of the season. I’m excited for the playoff run. I think anyone can see we have a huge ceiling and we have a lot of runway for ourselves.
“Just the day-to-day of getting better each and every day, finding our potential, maximizing our potential each day is kind of what we’re stuck in right now. Trying not to be complacent and just getting the most out of each day. I’m excited to be a part of it. Like I said, I think my value shows in big games, down the stretch and in playoff games.”