Mavs' Dereck Lively II Undergoes Surgery on Foot Injury, Played 36 Games in 2024-25
The Dallas Mavericks are riding high after the arrival of No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, but they could be without one of their most promising young players for a while.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Mavs center Dereck Lively II underwent surgery on the right foot injury that limited him to 36 games in 2024-25. His foot was placed in a boot after the procedure.
ESPN's Shams Charania specified that Lively's procedure was to "clean up bone spurs in his right foot." The 21-year-old reportedly "is expected to be healthy for training camp."
Lively joins a growing list of key players who are injured for Dallas. Star point guard Kyrie Irving is recovering from a torn ACL that will cost him a chunk of the 2025-26 campaign. Star power forward Anthony Davis underwent eye surgery this offseason.
After a promising rookie season, Lively was expected to take another step forward in 2024-25 before the injury derailed his year. During his brief time on the court, he averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 blocks while shooting 70.2 percent from the field.
In April, Stein and Jake Fischer reported that Lively's injury "caused what league sources describe as some significant tensions within the organization, including a notable blowup between director of player health and performance Johann Bilsborough and athletic performance director Keith Belton."
The No. 12 pick in the 2023 draft, Lively is a key member of the Mavs' budding young core. He and Flagg both have star potential and would benefit from developing under veterans like Irving and Davis.
However, Lively has to prove that he can stay healthy if he wants to reach his full potential and help lead Dallas back to title contention.
