Mavericks Lose Promising Center Dereck Lively For Rest Of 2025-2026 Season
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II will miss the rest of the 2025-2026 NBA season. Lively will undergo surgery to relieve lingering pain in his right foot. This is bad news for a Mavericks roster already plagued by injuries.
Dereck Lively’s Value To the Mavs
Dallas drafted Lively with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 draft. He has been a productive player for the team, especially on the defensive end of the court. Unfortunately, injuries have been a major issue. Lively broke his right foot last season and underwent offseason surgery to address the issue. Now he will be done after only seven games this season.
When he has been healthy, Lively has made a difference. This season, the Mavericks’ defense allowed 11 fewer points when he was on the court. In his short career, Lively has shot 72.5% from the floor, averaging 8.4 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in just under 23 minutes of playing time.
Dallas’ Roster Snakebit By Injuries
Dallas has once again been plagued by injuries this season. Star Point Guard Kyrie Irving will not play until at least January as he recovers from the torn ACL he suffered in March. All-Star Power Forward Anthony Davis has been limited to just ten games this season due to a calf strain. Daniel Gafford, the team’s other productive center, has only played in 15 games due to an ankle injury.
Sharpshooter Klay Thompson is currently battling a knee issue. Combo Guard Dante Exum underwent season-ending knee surgery late last month. It has been just one injury after another for this team for the last couple of seasons.
What Does Dallas Do Without Dereck Lively?
With Lively gone and Gafford questionable with his ankle issue, Dwight Powell and Moussa Cisse are likely to see more playing time. It is also possible that Davis will spend time at the center position. He is better as a power forward, but he has been forced to play center quite a bit over the years.
Naji Marshall has been making the most of his increased playing time during the flood of injuries, averaging 12.6 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game in 27.5 minutes per game. Look for the Mavs to continue to rely on him to soak up minutes.
What’s Next For Dallas?
Dallas (9-16) is currently in the middle of five days off. They will return to the court on Friday for a home matchup against the visiting Brooklyn Nets (6-17). Despite the injuries and all the trade rumors swirling around Davis, the Mavericks have won four of their last five games.
