Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II. Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Mavericks rookie joins Magic Johnson in exclusive club

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Jun 15, 2024 9:05 AM ET

Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II played a critical role in his team remaining alive in the NBA Finals on Friday, recording a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, which included the first three-pointer of his NBA career (regular season included).

Lively, 20, joined Lakers legend Magic Johnson as the only player 20 or younger to record multiple double-doubles in the NBA Finals. The Duke alum registered 11 points and 13 rebounds in Dallas' 106-99 loss in Game 3, playing a big part in the Mavs' 22-2 fourth-quarter run that nearly helped them complete a miraculous comeback. On Friday, though, Lively's infectious hustle and energy did not go in vain.

Dereck Lively II was huge off the bench for Dallas in the Game 4 win!

11 PTS
12 REB
80.0 FG%
1st-career 3-pointer

He joins Magic Johnson (5x) as the only players 20 or younger to record multiple double-doubles in NBA Finals history pic.twitter.com/s1zVD6MrhK
— NBA (@NBA) June 15, 2024

Remarkably, Lively also became the youngest player in NBA Finals history to make a 3-point shot.

Lively is the youngest player in Finals history to make a 3-point shot. pic.twitter.com/JDi1nxiT31
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 15, 2024

For perspective, Lively attempted and missed his only two threes during the regular season, with his last attempt against the Pelicans on Nov. 14. Lively went 2-of-13 from three during his college career.

In his postgame press conference, an emotional Lively credited his late mother for helping him make an improbable three under the brightest lights of the NBA Finals.

"It's for her. She helped me make it, she's going to help me make a lot more."

- Dereck Lively II on his first-career 3-pointer and playing for his mother ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8qai0CxpZc
— NBA (@NBA) June 15, 2024

Meanwhile, Mavs star Luka Doncic praised his rookie for injecting life into a team on the brink of elimination.

"I think people forget he's a rookie doing this stuff," Doncic said of Lively. "He's been amazing the whole season. Just watching him grow, it's unbelievable. It's fun having him out there with me, and [to] call him my teammate. It's unbelievable and it's a pleasure to have him."

The Mavs are trying to become the first team in NBA playoffs history, let alone the NBA Finals, to overcome a 0-3 deficit. Down 1-3, they will resume the mission during Monday's Game 4 in Boston.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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