NBA Rookies: Dereck Lively II Having Success In Dallas
The Dallas Mavericks are currently sixth in the Western Conference as they have 22 wins and 15 losses, led by superstar Luka Doncic and their other star player, Kyrie Irving.
They had to give up key pieces to land Irving last season when trading for him as they shipped out Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie, as well as some draft compensation.
This offseason they added Grant Williams to their roster which was a huge addition as it gave them a high IQ player. He’s someone who can really defend and knock down open shots from the outside.
In the 2023 NBA Draft, Dallas selected Dereck Lively II, a 7-foot-1 center who was known as one of the top rim protectors in the draft class. Before arriving at Duke, Lively was considered a top-three prospect out of his high school class.
At Duke he had an up-and-down season but as the season rolled along it was clear how much better he had gotten in such a short amount of time. His pick-and-roll defense in particular was something that really improved throughout the season which was absolutely huge for Lively's draft stock. Despite only averaging five points and five rebounds, he made a massive impact as he was one of the best rim protectors and lob threats in all of college basketball.
Heading into the NBA, some scouts saw him more as a project and not someone who could produce right away, but it’s clear that he has proved a lot of the doubters wrong. Lively has started nearly every single game for the Mavericks and has been a perfect fit alongside Doncic and Irving. He brings a different level of size and rim protection which is already helping the Mavs on the defensive end.
Doncic is known for being one of the best pure playmakers and creative passers in the NBA as his vision at 6-foot-7 is just simply out of this world. With Lively being such an elite lob threat and vertical spacer, it has been a match made in heaven paired up with Doncic’s passing. They have connected so many times this season and with Lively playing such a simple offense, it has truly done wonders for his confidence.
As of today, Lively has been one of the top rookies in the NBA due to the impact he has made on the defensive end while also fitting like a glove offensively. He plays a pretty limited role but as he continues to grow, mature and improve, he could see a larger role offensively as we move along throughout the years.
Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.