Mavs Directors Reportedly Went 'At It' but Didn't Throw 'Punches' over Lively Injury

Two officials from the Dallas Mavericks had a "loud, heated confrontation" over the handling of center Dereck Lively II as he battled an ankle injury, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

MacMahon reported athletic performance director Keith Belton laid out a plan for Lively to return in a Jan. 22 matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, director of player health and performance Johann Bilsborough wanted the 7'1" big to first undergo a CT scan, which showed he had a stress fracture in his right ankle.

"According to more than 10 team sources, the situation led to a loud, heated confrontation between Bilsborough and Belton that began in the trainer's room at the practice facility and continued into the weight room," MacMahon wrote.

He also spoke to a source who said, "Not punches, but they were going at it."

NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer first reported Sunday that "Lively's stress fracture in his right foot in February also caused what league sources describe as some significant tensions within the organization, including a notable blowup" between Bilsborough and Belton. Now, there's additional context.

Rather than a mid-January return, Lively didn't suit back up until the Mavs' 120-118 win over the Atlanta Hawks on April 2. One source said that "somebody should be fired" for the fact he was seemingly poised to play on a fractured ankle.

MacMahon explained the situation "was a symptom of a much larger problem."

"Bilsborough does not respect Belton's acumen, sources said," he reported.

One person within the organization described Belton as "a glorified cheerleader."

For a lot of fans, trading franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić was justification enough to call for the ouster of general manager Nico Harrison.

When Bilsborough and Belton were both hired by Harrison, the reporting by Stein, Fischer and MacMahon will raise further questions about how the Mavericks are being run.