How much of an impact has rookie Derek Lively II had on the Mavs’ trip to the Finals?
There are many reasons for Dallas’ successful season, starting with the offensive powerhouse of Luka Doncic, the Kyrie Irving duo, the acquisition of new players like Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington before the trade deadline, and, of course, the first upgrade – a valuable rookie all-around. Derek Lively II.
The 7-foot-1 athlete, a second-team All-Rookie pick, averaged 8.8 points on 74.7% shooting from the field, along with 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 blocks. per game this regular season.
But the most important thing is that the leaders of the group love this 20-year-old institution. For a player like Doncic, having this powerful lob threat and rim protector is a good thing, as the rookie has proven to be a missing piece of this puzzle for the Mavericks.
Derek Lively—a 20-year-old rookie center who many thought wouldn’t produce right away. Instead, he is one of the best players on the Finals team…
7’1 w/o shoes. PLACING rim defense & rebounding. Elite vertical spacer. An attractive short-roll pass. Luke’s perfect partner. pic.twitter.com/uAFxuxe6xg
-NBA University (@NBA_University) May 31, 2024
“I mean, he’s exactly what you’d want Luka to be,” GM Nico Harrison said of their relationship, especially since Doncic is arguably the best pick-and-roll producer. “Maybe you want him to be a veteran and not a rookie, but he’s a role model.”
The Slovenian has been praising the youngster since the start of the campaign, but knows that Lively has maintained his strong contributions throughout the playoffs. “It’s crazy, man, and you’re doing this as a rookie,” he said after Dereck’s 12-point, 15-rebound performance in the Western Conference semifinals Game 6 win over the Thunder.
For Lively, she admitted that she was impressed with the possibility of playing with stars like Luke and Kyrie before arriving in Texas. He also revealed recently that he always had Dallas as his destination of choice.
“When I looked at this program, that’s where I wanted to be because I knew that if I came here, I would have an impact,” he told the media. “I can come here, learn, and try to be myself. That’s what I’ve always done and I feel like I’ve grown up.” Now, it sounds like a match made in heaven.
Luka Doncic Knew Rookie Dereck Lively II Was A Good Fit When They First Met In The Offseason.
While everyone was surprised by Victor Wembanyama’s first season in the NBA, other players who endured their first campaign as professionals also made a big impact on their ranks, Dereck Lively II did so for the Mavericks.
While the Spurs and Thunder big men are finally leading the race for the Rookie of the Year award, Dallas has found a center of the future in their new 7-foot-1 athlete. Derek was immediately impressed by club star Luka Doncic.
According to their coach, Jason Kidd, the connection between them was almost instantaneous, as the Slovenian player realized that he could run the court, find open spaces and shoot any ball that was given to him. “It started in September when they met,” said the diplomat.
“Luka quickly found out that Lively can catch and finish. That was what he wanted. I think the relationship started there. There was trust on Day 1, and any time there’s trust between a quarterback and a receiver, it’s only going to get better,” Kidd added.
Things got even better on Opening Night in San Antonio, as all eyes were on Wembanyama. However, it was Lively who turned heads, scoring 16 points while hitting 7-of-8 shots in 30 minutes, and adding 10 rebounds to his first NBA stat line.
