Overview
- Dereck Lively II had bone spurs removed from his right foot on July 15 in a procedure reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania
- The minor nature of the surgery is not expected to delay his readiness for the Mavericks’ training camp in late September
- Lively missed over two months of the 2024–25 season due to foot and ankle issues, appearing in only 36 games
- In limited action last year, the 7-foot-1 center averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting above 70%, showcasing his rim-protection role
- His healthy return will boost Dallas’s championship hopes as the frontcourt is reconfigured around Anthony Davis and top draft pick Cooper Flagg following the Luka Doncic trade