The Dallas Mavericks will be without center Dereck Lively II for the rest of the 2025-26 season, sources confirmed to Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon. Lively will undergo a season-ending right foot procedure to address lingering discomfort but is expected to make a full recovery.
Lively appeared in just seven games this season, averaging 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks over 16.4 minutes per game. The 21-year-old was projected to provide the Mavericks with a rim-protecting presence and a strong interior rebounder alongside Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis.
The injury comes at a challenging time for Dallas, which currently holds a 9-16 record. The team has relied heavily on Anthony Davis, who leads the roster with 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds over 10 games, and D’Angelo Russell, contributing 11.2 points and 4.3 assists in 21 appearances.
Other key contributors include Klay Thompson (11.0 PPG), P.J. Washington (15.9 PPG), and Cooper Flagg (17.3 PPG), but the loss of Lively removes a crucial frontcourt option for the Mavericks’ rotation. Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell will likely see expanded roles in the starting lineup and bench rotation moving forward.
