Dereck Lively II: The Rising Star of the Dallas Mavericks

Dereck Lively II, the 20-year-old center for the Dallas Mavericks, made headlines recently after exiting Game 3 due to an inadvertent knee to the back of his head. Despite the setback, the rookie is reportedly "OK" and his availability for Game 4 is in doubt.

A Brief Background

Born on February 12, 2004, in Philadelphia, Lively II is the son of Dereck Lively Sr., who passed away in 2011, and Katherine Drysdale, a former Penn State basketball player. He began his basketball journey at Westtown School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, before moving on to Duke University, where he played for the Blue Devils.

The Rise to Fame

Lively II was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class. He was selected by the Thunder with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and was later traded to the Mavericks. After playing college basketball at Duke, he made his professional debut in the 2023-2024 season.

Injury Update

After exiting Game 3, Lively II's availability for Game 4 is in doubt. However, he is reportedly "OK" after taking an inadvertent knee to the back of his head. His mother, Katherine, played basketball at Penn State from 1988-1992, and his father, Dereck Sr., had passed away in 2011.

Game Log and Career Stats

Lively II has played in several games, showcasing his skills with 14 points, nine rebounds, and two assists in 27 minutes during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. His college stats at Duke show that he averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game.

Contract and Future Plans

Lively II is currently under contract with the Dallas Mavericks. His future plans include continuing to develop his skills and make a name for himself in the NBA. With his dedication to the sport and his rising star status, it will be exciting to see what the future holds for this talented young player.