Caris LeVert expects a ‘big year for myself’

In an interview with More than Stats, a site “highlighting the fashion trends of professional athletes,” Caris LeVert talks about his fashion sense but mostly, he tells writer Bailey Webster about what to expect from him and his teammates this season.

Big things.

“I feel like I put in a lot of work this summer. I feel like it’s going to be a big year for myself,” said LeVert. “So just preparing for that in every way that I can. [Practicing] good habits off the court, [like] making sure I’m getting the right amount of sleep every night, taking care of my body, and just doing the little things. When you’re a professional athlete, you’re going to put in the work on the court.

“I think where the great ones set themselves apart is from the work that they do off the court. So I’m trying to minimize distractions and do everything that I can off the court to give myself an advantage.”

Bottom line, he added, “For me, I’ve always seen the end goal for myself as, with basketball at least, being the best player that I can be playing in the NBA, at a really high level.”

LeVert, of course, had a breakout season last year, averaging 12.3 points, 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds, playing the 1, 2 and 3, filling in and improving as the season went on. In March, he averaged 14.4/4.6/4.0 and shot 39.2 percent from deep. After the All-Star Break, in fact, he hit 37.3 percent of his long bombs.

Without getting into specific predictions, CLV said the Nets togetherness this summer should be a big help.

“Pretty much our whole team is here and we’ve been here the whole summer. We have a young team, so the coaches wanted us to train together. We’ve had a pretty good summer, a pretty eventful summer, and I feel like we’ve gotten better as a team for sure.”

LeVert also seemed to express a desire to take on more of a leadership role. When Webster asked if he was more of a vocal leader or someone who leads more by example, LeVert responded, “I try to set a good example and lead by example. But when things need to be said, I’m definitely not one to shy back and hold back from things. So I definitely say that I’m both, whatever is needed.”

As for fashion, LeVert admitted being in New York has enhanced his fashion sense. So has disposable income.

“I feel like as an athlete or anybody in this industry, everybody is kind of a creative,” he noted. “I feel like all of us are into things, and I’m just into fashion. My dad was a graphic designer, so I guess I just have an eye for things like that. It was just instilled in me at a young age.

“In college though, it was a lot different because I didn’t really have the money to buy the things that I wanted. So I always said that when I got some money, I definitely was going to hone in more on the fashion part for sure.”

• CARIS LEVERT TALKS OFF-SEASON GRIND, NEW YORK FASHION & MORE - Bailey Webster - More than Stats