The Dallas Mavericks recently named Dereck Lively II as the starting center. Lively II, 20, is an NBA rookie on the rise after being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team and advancing to the NBA Finals, both in 2024. Lively II’s strength and toughness weren’t in doubt, despite his mother Kathy Drysdale’s passing ahead of the NBA Playoffs in the same year.

Lively II’s contributions can help the Mavericks remain a force to be reckoned with in the future, as his overall game could’ve been deflated due to Drysdale’s passing, but he turned negativity into positivity. Here’s everything you need to know to stay well-informed about Lively II and the Mavericks.

Dereck Lively II Is Now a Starting Center

The Dallas Mavericks’ preseason isn’t much of a secret, but rising star Dereck Lively II is now a starting center for the Mavericks. Lively II averaged 7.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in the 2023-24 NBA postseason while shooting 67.4% in field goal percentage.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd recently revealed Lively II’s current status as a first-team center for the time being. In 2023-24, Lively II and Daniel Gafford were a tag team, but Gafford, 26, was usually in the Mavericks’ starting lineup.

Kidd, 51, told the media, “Both of them are going to have opportunities to start at some point in the season, not just because of injury … But we’ll see how one is playing. It’s open. But we’re going to probably start D-Live with the first group and see how that goes.”