Is the Mavs 21-Year-Old Center Ready for a Big Leap in His Third Season?
There are few narratives in the NBA more tantalizing this season than the one surrounding Dereck Lively II. After two years of promise, flashes, and injury interruptions, his third season is shaping up as the real breakout. With the 2025-26 preseason behind us, the signs are showing: the leap is at hand. Lively entered the league with high expectations, standing at seven-foot-one, with mobility, shot blocking instincts, and finishing around the rim. His rookie and sophomore campaigns showed glimpses of his upside. Last year, in the 2024-25 NBA Season, Lively averaged 8.7 points and 7.5 rebounds, shooting over 70% from the field. Yet, those numbers came in just 36 games, after injuries derailed his ability to build consistency.
So what’s next for Lively? The answer is: stay healthy, solidify a role, and expand his game. His recent showing in the 2025 NBA Preseason is the first clear glimpse that he’s ready to do all three across the four preseason games. He’s averaging roughly 17.5 minutes, seven points per game, and shooting 72.2% from the field. What stands out the most is that his field-goal percentage remains elite, and his defensive presence. Lively recorded multiple blocks and steals. Given his injury history, simply being available and playing with intensity is a major step forward. Subsequently, with veteran center Daniel Gafford sidelined due to an ankle injury, Lively has a clearer path to significant minutes at the center position.
The addition of Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg has completely shifted Lively’s context. They’re not just talented teammates; they’re the perfect ecosystem for Lively’s growth. Davis’s presence changes everything. For the first time, Lively isn’t the only big being asked to protect the rim and clean up mistakes. Davis takes on the toughest front-court assignments, allowing Lively to play with more autonomy. Furthermore, Flagg’s arrival gives Lively a forward who can shoot, defend multiple positions, and move the ball. Flagg’s versatility creates spacing and pace that unlock easier rim runs and clean looks for the former Duke center. While it is only preseason, Lively’s leap seems forthcoming. Dereck Lively II is moving with confidence, reading plays quicker, and embracing his role within a front court that finally makes sense. The “Year Three Leap” isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about presence, and right now, Lively’s presence is impossible to miss.
