The Dallas Mavericks were dealt another difficult blow on Wednesday, announcing that 21-year-old center Dereck Lively II will undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot. It’s a frustrating setback for a young player whose energy, rim protection, and fast-developing feel for the NBA game have already made him one of the franchise’s most important long-term pieces.
What Has Derrick Lively Done?
Lively appeared in just seven games this season, battling swelling and soreness in the same foot that has troubled him throughout the year. He averaged 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 16.4 minutes, a small sample, but it continued to reflect the defensive instincts and vertical presence that made him such an immediate impact player as a rookie.
Unfortunately, injuries have been the defining storyline of Lively’s early career. He played 55 games in his debut season when Dallas made a memorable run to the NBA Finals, and just 36 games last year due to a stress fracture. This season ends with yet another foot issue, bringing his three-year total to fewer than 100 games played.
The Mavericks have been forced to reshape their rotation around these absences. Dallas is still without Kyrie Irving, who tore his ACL last March, and the team has spent much of the year juggling lineups around injuries to Lively, Luka Dončić, and Anthony Davis. Even so, the Mavericks have gone 3-1 over their last four games, sparked by Davis returning from a calf strain.
This is where context matters. Injuries can derail momentum, but they can also deepen a team’s internal toughness. Lively has always brought that toughness. Every healthy stretch he’s had, he’s shifted Dallas’ defensive identity: contesting everything at the rim, setting violent screens, and playing with a discipline far beyond his age.
It’s easy to forget that he’s still only 21 years old.
When available, Lively has been one of the most efficient bigs in basketball, shooting above 70 percent in each of his first two seasons and earning back-to-back selections to the NBA Rising Stars Game. Dallas exercising their fourth-year team option earlier this year reflected exactly how they view him: as a foundational part of their future.
This injury will sting, especially for a roster that desperately needs continuity. But Lively’s recovery timeline is encouraging. The Mavericks expect him to be ready for the start of next year’s training camp, giving him a clean runway to reset, rebuild, and return stronger.
And if history tells us anything, it’s that he always does.
For a franchise battling injuries, searching for rhythm, and fighting in a ruthless Western Conference, this is about patience, not panic. Lively’s career hasn’t taken a straight line, most great careers don’t. The next chapter will come down to recovery, development, and the resilience he’s already shown.
The comeback is still loading. And based on everything we’ve seen from him, it’s going to be better than ever.