Dereck Lively II shares another message to late mother after reaching NBA Finals

After the Dallas Mavericks clinched the Western Conference on Thursday night, Dereck Lively shared an Instagram story in honor of his late mother.

After the Dallas Mavericks clinched the Western Conference with a 124-103 victory over Minnesota on Thursday night, former Duke star Dereck Lively II took to social media to honor his late mother once again.

The rookie 7-footer lost his mother to cancer in early April, sharing a heartfelt tribute on Instagram and calling her his superhero. He earned national love in the second round of the playoffs when he helped the Mavericks beat the No. 1 seed, Oklahoma City, with back-to-back double-doubles. He shared a short message for his mother after defeating the Thunder, saying that he loved and missed her.

In the Western Conference finals, Lively and the Mavericks needed just five games to dispatch the Timberwolves. Lively sat out Game 4 with a neck injury, but he averaged 9.5 points and 7.8 rebounds.

After the clinching win in Game 5, which featured a nine-point, eight-rebound Lively performance, the rookie center shared another quick Instagram story in her honor from the celebratory locker room.

“Just keep watching from above,” Lively wrote.

Lively and the Mavericks take on fellow Blue Devil Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals beginning on June 6.