Tag: Dereck Lively II

ESPN analyst Tim Legler on Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II: ‘He has been fantastic’

The Mavericks are 4-0 for the first time since 2004, and part of their success can be attributed to the strong play of Dereck Lively II.

The Dallas Mavericks are 4-0 for the first time since 2004, and part of their success can be attributed to the strong play of first-round pick Dereck Lively II in the early going.

Certainly, it has been Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kyrie Irving and Grant Williams leading the way for the Mavericks. They are the four leading scorers on the team, but the quartet has received some tremendous help from Lively on both ends of the court.

Lively had it all working on Wednesday, too.

He produced seven points, 13 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block in a 114-105 win over the Chicago Bulls. He is just the second rookie in team history to record six or more assists in a game as a center (Sean Rooks, 1992-93).

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd likes what Lively has provided.

He wants to do the right thing. He wants to learn. He wants to help his team win. It’s not running a play for him. It’s about doing the little things. He understands Luka, Kai and his teammates are going to find him on the roll. Again, his IQ is high… Getting the offensive rebound. A lot of times, those guys are looking to score, and he found (his teammates). He did that a lot tonight.

Lively has often played the right way thus far and has provided a spark to the team. He provides an interior presence and can affect games on either end of the floor. He also flashed his potential as a facilitator by getting others involved versus the Bulls.

The early display by Lively has drawn some attention.

He is averaging 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and one block on 78.9% shooting from the field. He produced a double-double on Oct. 25 with 16 points and 10 rebounds to become the ninth player with at least 15 points and 10 rebounds in a debut since 2000.

With the Mavericks’ hot start, Lively earned some praise recently by ESPN analyst Tim Legler. Speaking on the “Old Man & the Three” podcast, Legler likes the addition of Lively to the Mavericks.

Lively really brings something to them they needed. … To have that kind of an impact and be somebody you can kind of just throw it up to anywhere, and he can go get it. He runs the floor like a deer. They need that kind of athleticism with the way Luka plays and having that other option when you’re trying to figure how to take away what he is doing off a ball screen or an iso, and you’ve got Kyrie on the swing pass to attack, there is a gap there down the lane that is going to be available for Dereck Lively, and he is playing with one of the best passers in the league to reward him. Lively has been fantastic.

The Mavericks experimented with various lineups in the preseason and utilized Lively both in the starting lineup and the second unit. He showed he could play with either group, and Kidd has kept him in the starting lineup over their last three games.

The organization appears to have added a player in Lively that can immediately affect games. He has drawn comparisons to former franchise cornerstone Tyson Chandler, given his ability to work in the post and defend at a high level.

He is glad to help the team get off to a great start.

“It is a great feeling, but we’re not satisfied,” Lively said. “We know it’s a long season. It’s a good start to the season, but we’ve just got to be able to maintain this focus and determination throughout the whole season.”

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Mavs’ Luka Doncic had a hilarious NSFW reaction to Dereck Lively’s debut

In a matchup that featured Victor Wembanyama, it may have been another rookie who stole the show on Wednesday.

In a matchup that featured No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, it may have been another rookie who stole the show to lift his team to a victory and open the regular season.

Dereck Lively II produced 16 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot to help the Dallas Mavericks to a 126-119 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. He shot 7-of-8 from the field in 30 minutes of work.

The 12th pick became the second player in history to record at least 15 points and 10 rebounds on 85% shooting from the field or better in a debut game. He is one of nine players with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a debut since 2000.

The performance by Lively earned praise from virtually everyone on the roster, including Luka Doncic, who had 33 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. He was asked about the effort after the game and definitely had an NSFW response for those watching on ESPN.

“He played amazing,” Doncic told Cassidy Hubbarth. “I don’t remember seeing a rookie that played that amazing for (their) first game. I remember my first game; I was nervous. He didn’t seem that nervous. He played (expletive) amazing.”

Said coach Jason Kidd: “I thought Dereck was great tonight. … He has been great with both (the starters and second unit). To bring him off the bench tonight and then being able to start him in the second half was something we had talked about doing. He was great on both ends — being able to rebound the ball, change shots and giving us second and third opportunities.”

The Mavericks experimented with various lineups in the preseason and utilized Lively in the starting lineup and the second unit. He showed he could play with either group, and Kidd opted to start him to begin the second half.

Lively responded with 10 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block in 17 minutes over the last two quarters. He helped change the game for the Mavericks and looked to play without any nerves.

“I feel like the preseason games definitely taught me a lot,” Lively said. “I feel like the trip to Abu Dhabi (against Minnesota) and Madrid (against Real Madrid) and then the game against Detroit, I was able to learn and get me comfortable out there with my teammates.”

Lively averaged six points, five rebounds, 1.8 blocks and one assist on 68.8% shooting from the field in the preseason. He finished his run with his best performance against the Pistons on Oct. 20: 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block.

The Mavericks appear to have added a player in Lively that can immediately affect games. He has drawn comparisons to former franchise cornerstone Tyson Chandler, given his ability to work in the post and defend at a high level.

He is eager to contribute in any way possible.

“I just go out there and try to take it play by play,” Lively said. “If I get a bucket, that’s what I’m happy about. If I get someone else a bucket, I’m even happier. I’m just trying to make sure the score goes up and we come out with the win.”

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Mavericks big Dereck Lively stole the show from Victor Wembanyama during their NBA debuts

This was exactly what the Mavericks needed from Dereck Lively.

Dereck Lively II never had more than 13 points during the entirety of his tenure as a big man in college at Duke.

Coming off the bench in his NBA regular season debut, he managed to score as many points midway through the third quarter. He finished with 16 points (7-of-8 FG, 2-of-3 FT) with 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block and just one turnover.

But most importantly, meanwhile, he managed to play spoiler in San Antonio on the court against No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama as the Mavericks beat the Spurs on Opening Night. It was just a fantastic performance from the first-year big man.

RELATED: Meet Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively, the big man from Duke who is going to dominate on defense

Lively provided exactly what the doctor ordered for the Mavericks.

While his most elite trait is his rim protection, his offensive efficiency on scoring attempts near the basket is also incredibly important. He made an impact as a roll man in the pick and roll and cleaned up messes on offensive rebound putbacks.

He caught alley-oop passes from Luka Doncic (who had very high praise, although profane, about the rookie) and he had the highest plus-minus (20) of anyone on either team during the game.

This is exactly what Lively set out to do during his NBA debut. He told us:

“First game, first practice, first whatever, I’m just trying to go out there and be the most coachable player and try to be the best teammate and be able to be the best player on the court. No matter if that’s me diving out of bounds or diving on the floor to save a ball or making an extra pass or making an extra rebound or doing whatever it takes to win, I just want to go out there and show the world that no matter what it is I need to do. I’m going to do whatever it takes.”

Kudos to Lively for making a name for himself and helping his team win.

The rookie likely earned a spot in the starting lineup for sooner rather than later.

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Victor Wembanyama among 13 rookies to sign shoe deals with Nike

Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller headline a talented rookie class to sign with Nike this year.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama and Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller are among 13 rookies to sign shoe and apparel contracts with Nike, according to Nick DePaula of Boardroom.

Wembanyama and Miller headline a talented rookie class for the Swoosh, which includes Amen Thompson (Houston), Ausar Thompson (Detroit), Anthony Black (Orlando), Bilal Coulibaly (Washington) and Cason Wallace (Oklahoma City).

They join a star-studded roster, including signature athletes LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George and Sabrina Ionescu. It has been estimated that nearly 70% of players in the NBA wear Nike on the court.

The group of players signed to Nike nearly makes up half of the first round of draftees this year. Other rookies, such as Scoot Henderson (PUMA), Jarace Walker (Under Armour), Jett Howard (Jordan) and Gradey Dick (Adidas), have also inked with apparel companies.

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Jason Kidd: Mavs experimenting with Dereck Lively II in the second unit

After starting the first three preseason games, Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II has been practicing this week with the second unit.

After starting the first three preseason games, Dallas Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II has been practicing this week with the second unit as coach Jason Kidd evaluates his team.

Kidd previously said the Mavericks would experiment with lineups throughout the preseason. He wanted to look at Lively and fellow rookie Olivier-Maxence Prosper in the starting group to see how each handled the situation.

The team is still evaluating how to best utilize Lively’s defensive abilities on the court, whether in the first or second unit. Working him into the second team this week has given the staff another sample of how he can affect the game, Kidd said on Tuesday.

He is going to make mistakes, so being able to work in practice on those different aspects of the defense is going to help him. Looking at him with the second group this week — he is not with the starters — so that has actually helped him, too.

He has been really good with both sides, the first and second teams. He is a rookie and has made some mistakes, but that is a given. We’re just trying to put him in a situation to be successful. He is doing the work, and we’re happy where he is right now as a rookie.

Lively is averaging 3.3 points, five rebounds and two blocks on 55.6% shooting from the field this preseason. He has given the team a vertical presence in the paint on both ends of the court and will be crucial to their success.

The Mavericks have mostly used their exhibition games to get a closer look at their bench players. Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Grant Williams have played sparingly. They will likely do the same in their preseason finale on Friday as they host the Detroit Pistons.

It appears the Mavericks still have much to figure with their rotations. However, Lively figures to play a large role for Kidd when the regular season tips off on Oct. 25.

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Jason Kidd reacts to Lively, Prosper starting Mavericks’ first preseason game

Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper earned the start on Thursday as the Mavericks tipped off the preseason.

Jason Kidd hinted that Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper could start in the preseason, and the two rookies were among the first five out for the Dallas Mavericks against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kidd said the Mavericks would experiment with their lineups throughout training camp and the preseason. The team has two spots open in the starting lineup next to Luke Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Grant Williams, and it is looking to audition Lively and Prosper in those roles.

The Mavs gained their first look on Thursday.

Lively recorded two points, five rebounds and one blocked shot in 14 minutes during the 111-99 loss in Abu Dhabi. Prosper had one point and one rebound in 17 minutes.

Kidd liked what he saw from them.

You look at the rookies starting tonight against a playoff team, and I thought they did a really good job. They were rookies. There was some good stuff that Dereck did going against (Rudy) Gobert and (Karl-Anthony Towns), and then O-Max I thought had some good looks. It just didn’t go down for him tonight.

The Mavericks largely used the contest to take a closer look at their backups. Doncic, Irving and Williams played only in the first half. Doncic led the way with 25 points and second-year guard Jaden Hardy added 13 points off the bench.

Kidd has been impressed by the rookies from their offseason workouts at the practice facility. They have hit their training hard and have stuck to their plan set forth by the team. Kidd expects them to play this season and believes they are a part of their long-term plans.

Lively and Prosper will likely start again on Saturday versus the Timberwolves in Abu Dhabi before traveling to face Real Madrid in Spain. They seemingly have a chance to make a name for themselves and will look to stand out in those games.

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Mavericks’ Jason Kidd details potential role for Dereck Lively, Olivier-Maxence Prosper

When the Mavericks take the court this preseason, there is a possibility that Lively and Prosper will be in the starting lineup.

When the Dallas Mavericks take the court this preseason, there is a strong possibility rookies Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper will be in the starting lineup.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said over the weekend the team will experiment with its lineups throughout the preseason. The group projects to have a couple of spots open in the starting lineup, which could go to the rookies.

They will open training camp on Wednesday, which is a bit earlier than other teams thanks to them playing three games overseas. The Mavericks will face Minnesota twice in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 5 and Oct. 7 before seeing Real Madrid in Spain on Oct. 10.

Kidd, speaking with Marc Stein on 97.1 The Freak in Dallas, explained the plan to start Lively and Prosper next to Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Grant Williams.

These last couple of weeks, our rookies have taken jumps as I’ve talked to the coaching staff and (team president) Nico (Harrison) about starting Lively with Luka, Kai and Grant. We’ll see how that goes but I can say that we’ll probably start both rookies here early in camp probably in one or if not both games in Abu Dhabi just to see how they handle the situation.

The two first-round picks each had strong debuts with the Mavericks in the NBA Summer League. Lively averaged 8.4 points and eight rebounds in five games. Prosper posted averages of 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

Lively and Prosper have been among the players getting in work at the practice facility of late ahead of the start of training camp. They have hit their training hard and earned praise from Kidd.

They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. Each week they get better so we’re excited. I look for those rookies to play a lot this season. They’re going to be a part of our fabric. There could be a chance of one of them starting so we’ll see.

Preseason in the NBA is often a period of time when teams will experiment with different lineups and rotations ahead of the season. The Mavericks will be no different this year and it could result in two first-year players starting early on.

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NBA 2K24: Ratings revealed for the first round of the 2023 NBA draft

The official player ratings and other features for NBA 2K24 have been unveiled as the popular video game hit stores on Friday.

The official player ratings and other features for NBA 2K24 have been unveiled as the popular video game hit stores on Friday across all platforms around the world.

The latest installment of NBA 2K features three distinct editions, each honoring Kobe Bryant. The game, for the first time, also allows for crossplay, meaning users on different gaming consoles can still play with their friends online.

In addition to many of the new features and updates unveiled in the game, fans are equally as excited to see the initial player ratings. Of course, with a new group of players set to enter the league, many are curious to see how the rookie class would be graded.

The franchise, led by marketing director Ronnie 2K, previously revealed the ratings for several first-rounders this year. With the game officially available for purchase around the world, the grades for each rookie have been unveiled.

Here are the ratings for the first round of the 2023 NBA draft.

Sam Presti explains why Thunder traded up with Mavericks to draft Cason Wallace

“Our philosophy has always been, try to get as high as you can.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder made one of the biggest splashes of the 2023 NBA draft when they traded up two spots with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Thunder sent their No. 12 pick and a $17 million trade exception to the Mavericks in exchange for the No. 10 pick, which turned out to be Cason Wallace, and Davis Bertans.

The trade allowed the Thunder to secure Wallace by essentially buying a two-spot jump. Bertans is potentially owed $33 million over the next two seasons. Meanwhile, the Mavericks used the No. 12 pick to select Dereck Lively II.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti spoke about the decision to make the trade with the Mavericks in the rookie introductory press conference. He cited how they always think about trading up:

“Our philosophy has always been, try to get as high as you can, and it’s really hard to do that. We are always thinking about how to pick as high as you can. This was I think an opportunity for us that made sense for both teams in a lot of different ways, and Nico Harris and I have been talking about it for, I don’t know, I’m going to say probably about a week, it really started to become more of a topic. We touched base on it every day. We didn’t know if it would happen or it wouldn’t.

“But the way things shook out it, worked out great for us. We were able to accomplish our goals, which obviously moving up to get Cason, and they were able to accomplish goals for their team.

“It was nothing more than daily communication, check-in, and the way the board goes, that really dictated the ability for them to feel like they can make that deal with us.”

It sounds like both teams got what they wanted from the deal — the Thunder secured Wallace by moving up and the Mavericks shredded salary from their expensive payroll and secured Lively II.

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ACC players taken in the 2023 NBA draft

Have long-term hopes for any of these players?

It’s no secret that the ACC is in a rough spot right now. Over the past couple of years, the conference’s quality of play has suffered, and the NCAA Tournament selection committee has taken notice, giving the power conference only four at-large bids in each of the past two years.

Now, we’re seeing the lull carry over to the NBA draft. A conference that typically sees one of its own go off the board within the first four picks had to wait until the 12th pick in 2023. In fact, that was the only lottery pick for the conference.

So it stands to reason that there isn’t a lot of hope for this ACC class of incoming NBA players, but stranger things have happened. As we just saw with the champion Denver Nuggets, even a diamond in the rough on draft night can turn into a franchise-altering player. It could happen again with one of these players: