With a quarter of the 2024-24 NBA season in the rearview mirror, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the Dallas Mavericks hit a home run with their recent draft pick. Taken 12th overall, Dereck Lively II has been a big part of the Mavericks’ success so far this season. The bouncy seven footer has asserted himself since game one. Following his debut against the Spurs, Lively wrenched the starting position away from Dwight Powell and hasn’t looked back since.
The Fundamentals
At his core Lively is a rim running big man, following in the footsteps of players like JaVale McGee and Clint Capela. He’s light on his feet with a good motor. Lively consistently runs the floor in transition and capitalizes on defenses that fail to get back in time.
In the half court Lively’s role is fairly simple. He’s primarily utilized as a screen and roll big, with dribble hand-offs sprinkled into the mix as well. Lively executes very well in these situations, screening and rolling hard towards the rim. His screens help create space for the dynamic and shifty guards he runs PnR’s with. Combine that advantage with Lively’s rolling gravity and vertical spacing, now you’ve got a two man action that either leads to points in the paint or bullet passes to shooters.
The Luka-Lively Connection
With Kyrie Irving missing a substantial amount of time this season, Luka Dončić has been the primary creator whenever he’s on the court. The main beneficiary of this heliocentric approach has been the big fella. Luka has delivered 55 dimes to Lively this season, which is the leading assist combo on the team.
Luka of course deserves a lot of credit for delivering these dimes. But Lively’s role in these plays shouldn’t go unnoticed. I’ve been particularly impressed with how Lively will match Luka’s pace in pick and rolls. He’s also quickly learned how to make himself available in the short roll when defenses send two to the ball. Lively recognizes what the defense is doing, and will adjust the speed of his roll to put pressure on a defense that is playing three on four.
Raising the Ceiling
The one aspect of Lively’s game that could raise his ceiling from a good to great big man is his passing. While he’s only averaging one assist per game, his passes are accurate and delivered on time. Lively plays with a patience on the short roll that is impressive for such a young player. Additionally, he’s made a few dump off passes to cutters and backdoor bounce passes that demonstrate room for growth in this area.
When you step back at take a look at the whole picture, it’s evident that Lively already has a good understanding of his role and the skills he needs to master. He and Luka have good chemistry on the court and could be a dynamic duo for years to come. Dereck Lively II is off to a great start in his rookie campaign. Whether he can progress from a good starting center to a great one hinges on his playmaking ability. Regardless, the Mavericks’ front office deserves a pat on the back for hitting on such an important draft pick.
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