Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II has been marred with injuries in his young NBA career. This season, he only played seven games after he was ruled out for the rest of the 2025-26 season. The big man underwent surgery to address the lingering discomfort in his right foot.
It was the same foot that held him back for nearly three months during the 2024-25 season. During that year, he was limited to 36 games. In his rookie year, Lively also dealt with minor injuries, limiting him to just 55 games.
Injuries have affected his time on the floor after he showed promise in his first year in the NBA. However, the big man had a positive update on his injury recovery on Thursday.
Dereck Lively II Addresses His Injury Recovery
On Thursday, he attended the team's Mavs Ball in Dallas. Lively spoke to reporters while he was on the event's blue carpet.
"I went from being on a scooter, two crutches, and now I can walk around with a cane. So I'm definitely getting there," Lively said. "Taking it day-by-day… Making sure I don't rush myself, taking it real slow, and making sure that the scans are gonna give me the advice on what I should do. Not how I feel."
Dereck Lively II on where he is at in his recovery:
"I went from being on a scooter, two crutches, and now I can walk around with a cane. So I'm definitely getting there…Making sure I don't rush myself, taking it real slow, and making sure that the scans are gonna give me the… pic.twitter.com/ZRd3j55EdV
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) March 19, 2026
When healthy, Lively has proven that he can be a reliable inside presence for the Mavericks. His ability to run well towards the rim and contest shots has made him a key piece of the franchise. He also played well during the team's playoff run to the NBA championship.
Through 21 games, the former Duke star averaged 7.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in the 2024 playoffs. In the Finals against the Boston Celtics, Lively averaged 5.6 points and 8.2 rebounds off the bench. He fit perfectly next to Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic.
His style of play worked well with Doncic, who frequently gets his teammates involved. Their pick-and-roll game did not disappoint, as Lively runs hard to the rim to finish the play.
Now, Lively has taken up a mentorship role with Cooper Flagg, his fellow Duke alum.
"I'm making sure that he's feeling as comfortable as possible, giving him any little detail or any little thing to give him," Lively said back in August. "Because whenever I was in his position, I remember how frightened I was, and I was only 19 and he's 18."
Mavericks fans could expect Lively to return next season.
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