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NBA Rising Stars: Meet Dallas Mavs rookie Dereck Lively II

The Mavericks rookie is averaging 9.2 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game this season.

INDIANAPOLIS — Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II starred in the NBA All-Star Weekend as part of the Rising Stars challenge

Lively played as part of Team Jalen in a four-team, three-game tournament featuring the league's best rookies, sophomores and NBA G League Players. Lively's teammates on Team Jalen included Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, Indiana's Bennedict Mathurin, Portland's Shaedon Sharpe, New Orleans' Jordan Hawkins, Utah's Walker Kesler and San Antonio's Jeremy Sochan. 

Team Jalen took on on Team Tamika:

  • Paolo Banchero (Sophomore, Orlando Magic)
  • Jaden Ivey (Sophomore, Detroit Pistons)
  • Jalen Duren (Sophomore, Detroit Pistons)
  • Keegan Murray (Sophomore, Sacramento Kings)
  • Scoot Henderson (Rookie, Portland Trail Blazers)
  • Keyonte George (Rookie, Utah Jazz)
  • Dyson Daniels (Sophomore, New Orleans Pelicans)
  • Vince Williams Jr. (Sophomore, Memphis Grizzlies)

Team Jalen beat Team Tamika and faced Team Detlef in the final. Team Jalen then won the final, 26-13.

Lively scored six points and dished one assist in three minutes and 38 seconds of game time in the final.

Who is Dereck Lively II?

The Dallas Mavericks selected Duke's Dereck Lively II with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft after reportedly trading their 10th pick and Davis Bertans to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Lively quickly emerged as the Mavericks starting center, starting in 35 of his 37 games played this season. Lively missed seven games due to a broken nose he suffered in a 131-129 win over the Orlando Magic on Jan. 29. So far this season, Lively has averaged 9.2 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game.

WFAA's Jonah Javad sat down with Lively last month, where he opened up about his father's death, his mother's cancer battle and being mentored by former Maverick center Tyson Chandler. Watch their conversation here.

In Lively's return from his broken nose injury, he logged eight points, five rebounds and four blocks in 17 minutes off the bench.

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