Wolverines in the NBA: Caris LeVert the 'spark' Cleveland needed in Game 7 win

The Cleveland Cavaliers were down eight points when former Michigan Wolverines basketball guard Caris LeVert entered Game 7 of the first-round series against the Orlando Magic May 5. The Cavs trailed by 18 points at one juncture late in the second quarter. They went on to win, 106-94, but not without a big-time bench spark from LeVert, who dropped 15 points and added 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 30 minutes. 

LeVert had totaled just 37 points in the first six matchups of the series, including a combined 4 in the previous two games. He was benched in a Game 6 loss just days earlier, not appearing in the second half. However, the eighth-year pro came up when his team needed him, and the franchise won its first playoff series without now-Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James since 1993. 

LeVert shot 5-of-9 from the field and made 5 free throws, also contributing a block and a steal. 

“We’ve got a belief in Caris,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We know that no matter the moment, no matter the pressure, Caris has the ability to impact success and impact winning. He knew we needed it tonight, and he came off the bench and gave us a huge spark.”

The No. 4 seed Cavaliers will take on the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Four former Michigan players were on the opposing team in guards Caleb Houstan and Jett Howard, forward Franz Wagner and center Moritz Wagner.

The Wagner brothers were the only two to play in Game 7 and wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do so if it weren’t for Franz’s 26 points in a Game 6 victory to keep the season alive. 

Both were a major reason why Orlando reached the postseason for the first time since 2020 and third time since 2011-12. Franz was second on the team with 19.7 points per game, while Moritz was a presence off the bench, producing 10.9 points per outing.

LeVert is one of two former U-M standouts still alive in the postseason, joining guard Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks. The 11th-year veteran has dealt with an ankle injury, playing just 22 minutes in two games of a first-round series win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The fifth-seeded Mavericks are taking on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.

Here’s a look at former Michigan players in the NBA:

Kobe Bufkin (played at U-M from 2021-23), G, Atlanta Hawks

The former Michigan guard competed in 17 games as a rookie for the 36-36 Hawks, averaging 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per tile, while shooting 37 percent from the field and 22.5 percent from three-point distance … Posted 23.6 points, 5.9 assists and 5.4 rebounds while in the G League.

Moussa Diabate (2021-22), F, Los Angeles Clippers

Recorded 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in 11 appearances off the bench for the 51-31 Clippers, who lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round … Put up 15.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per clash in the G League.

Tim Hardaway Jr., (2010-13), G, Dallas Mavericks

Played in two games but missed the final four of a 4-2 first-round series victory over the Los Angeles Clippers … Averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per outing, shooting 40.,2 percent overall and 35.3 percent from three-point range in 79 games with 12 starts for the 50-32 Mavericks.

Caleb Houstan (2021-22), G, Orlando Magic

Saw time in 59 tilts with 13 starts, averaging 13.8 minutes … Posted 4.3 points and 1.4 boards per game, connecting on 38.8 percent of his field goal attempts and 37.3 percent of his triple tries … Totaled 3 points in 14 playoff minutes.

Jett Howard (2022-23), G, Orlando Magic

Totaled 10 minutes in two playoff victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his team dropped the first-round series in seven games … Competed in 18 outings in the regular season for the 47-35 Magic, compiling 29 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals in 67 minutes … Also put up 18.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per night in 29 G League outings.

Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Cleveland Cavaliers

Averaged 7.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in a first-round series triumph over the Orlando Magic … Registered 14 points, 5.1 assists and 4.1 boards per contest in 68 regular-season clashes with 10 starts for the 48-34 Cavaliers.

Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Washington Wizards

The former Michigan forward was sidelined with a season-ending hip injury suffered in mid-January … Saw action in 23 games for the Detroit Pistons, before being traded to Washington.

Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Washington Wizards

Finished second on the 15-67 Wizards with 17.4 points per game, adding 4.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals … Made a team-best 2.4 three-pointers per contest, shooting 32.6 percent from downtown … Connected on 41.3 percent of his shots from the field.

Duncan Robinson (2013-17), F, Miami Heat

Returned from a late-season back injury to appear in all five postseason games, averaging 2.6 points, 1.2 assists and 1 rebound per contest in a first-round loss to the Boston Celtics … In the regular season, he played in 68 games with 36 starts, tallying 12.9 points, 2.8 assists and 2.5 boards per outing, shooting 45 percent overall and 39.5 percent on threes.

Zavier Simpson (2016-20), G, Memphis Grizzlies

The former Michigan guard signed with the franchise late in the season and saw action in seven games … Put up 6 points, 3.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 23 minutes per clash for the 57-25 Thunder.

Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic

Averaged 18.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in a seven-game first-round series setback to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with outbursts of 34 and 26 points in games four and 6 victories … Started all 72 outings in which he appeared in the regular season for the 47-35 Magic, notching 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists on average … Shot 48.2 percent from the field and a career-low 28.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Moritz Wagner (2015-17), F/C, Orlando Magic

The former Michigan big man posted 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game during a seven-game series loss to the Cavaliers … Averaged 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per tilt while shooting a career-high 60.1 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range in 80 regular-season games.