NBA: Reasons why the Mavericks found the perfect rookie in Dereck Lively II

Unreal! Dereck Lively II made a one-of-a-kind debut after putting in an impressive double-double in his very first NBA game. The Duke standout was doing everything on the court against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. The 19-year-old big man did a little bit of everything and even did so efficiently. In 31 minutes of play, Lively II posted 16 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block while shooting 7-for-8 from the field. Here are some reasons why the 2023 12th overall pick is the perfect guy for the Mavericks.

Dallas found a center they could pair with Luka Doncic’s style of play

After numerous failed attempts at pairing Luka Doncic with a star big man, Dallas may have just found what they have been looking for all these years with rookie Dereck Lively II. In his NBA debut, the 19-year-old center already made multiple highlight plays, most of which were lob passes from Doncic.

I repeat, Luka Doncic really likes playing with Dereck Lively II pic.twitter.com/By4GVepfWs

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) October 26, 2023

Lively II played great in his first regular season game and his future is looking bright. A tenacious rebounder, an impressive defender, and a confident scorer, the rookie really has it all.

Meanwhile, Luka Doncic also had huge praises for Lively II and even said “he played f—-ng amazing” live on air. The Mavericks secured their first win over the Spurs, 126-119. Truly, Dereck Lively II outshined Wembanyama during their NBA debut. Dallas and Santonio will meet again on a Christmas game, on December 24. They’ll also face each other next year, on February 15 and March 20.

Dereck Lively II got hops!

Dereck Lively II can really get up. The 7-foot-1 young center held his own ground against the towering Wembanyama. He’s very confident when it comes to grabbing offensive boards, resulting in a putback. It’s great to see Lively II dominate the paint, especially when this is what Dallas needs right now. He’s also got that hustle and dog in him!

DERECK LIVELY II pic.twitter.com/IxCdZVmvex

— Blue Devils (@BlueDevils) October 26, 2023

The rookie Dereck Lively II moves like a veteran on the court

Some fans have noticed how graceful Lively II moves on the court. This isn’t expected of someone like him, a rookie who just started his first NBA regular season game. Others have also pointed out that he rolls in the paint like a veteran and easily finds holes on the defense.

This is very surprising for a basketball player who was selected 12th overall in the draft. Lively II started in all four of Dallas’ preseason games. But, against the Spurs on their season-opener, the rookie came off the bench. As a result, the team struggled against the Spurs in the first half. After Lively II checked into the game, the Mavericks suddenly took over the lead, eventually winning the match.