Through eight games and two weeks of the 2026-27 season, Dallas Mavericks big man Dereck Lively II has not taken the floor. He is still rehabbing his injured right foot after having a second surgery on it last December, and the Mavericks have not provided a timeline for his return.
It seems like he is still a ways away from returning to the floor, given the limited updates about his status that have been provided by the team, and the uncertainty surrounding his return makes his future in Dallas look more questionable.
Lively has played just 98 games since being drafted in 2023, with 55 of those games being in his rookie year. Since then, he has played 43 games, and just seven last season.
Lively was so good on that Mavs team that made the Finals. That was his rookie year. So only 43 games since BOS won the title in 2024.
He looked like he was going to be one of the next great defender/rebounder bigs. Like Tyson Chandler. It would a shame if this injury has taken that away.
The last game that he played in was November 21, 2025, which was 349 days ago. He still isn't practicing, and while Dusty May said that he is "making major progress," his return still doesn't seem close.
A year out. I don't like hearing that he isn't even practicing yet.
"I wonder who Dusty May is". Oh, he is the Mavs new head coach this year. Oh, he is the guy from Michigan. Right. Okay.
