Dereck Lively II is looking like the perfect center for the Dallas Mavericks just a month into his rookie season. The man who is finding success due to his size in Dallas would actually rather be 4’5″ instead, as he revealed to The Tidal League.
“4’5. Being 7-foot is painful. It’s annoying and impractical. I can never hide, I can never do something slick. No clothes ever fit me, I can’t fit in a car, I can’t fit in a normal seat on a plane, and if I don’t pay attention and duck for doorways, I’m going to smack my forehead every time. I have showers that come up to my chest and I have to duck to wash my hair. It’s annoying as hell. Being 7’2 comes with its advantages, but the cons are right there with the pros.”
“4’5… Being 7-foot is painful. It’s annoying, unpractical…No clothes ever fit me, can’t fit in a car, can’t fit in a normal seat on a plane.”
Dereck Lively says he’d rather be 4’5 than 7’5 😯
(via Sessions, @TidalLeague)https://t.co/A7wSMBVnW8
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 22, 2023
A career in basketball would be well out of the question for Lively if he was 4’5″. While he does envy the ability to fit into any place and have room to spare, almost everyone in the world would rather be super tall than super short. But we can also hope for that size and wish to be NBA players, something Lively already is.
But it would be hilarious if the center that is expected to give Luka Doncic a reason to stay in Dallas was 4’5″ instead of the 7’1″ that Lively is.
Dereck Lively II Emerging As One Of The Best Rookies Of The Class
Dereck Lively II was the No. 1 ranked high school recruit by ESPN in 2022, and he used that notoriety to join the Duke Blue Devils. Unfortunately, his Duke career was extremely underwhelming as he averaged 5.4 points and 5.0 rebounds, looking extremely raw and not fitting into the team’s style well. Despite that, Lively declared for the Draft and entered the pre-draft process as a late first-round pick.
After rising through the ranks before the draft, he was selected No. 12 overall by the Mavericks, where he’s already excelling. He’s showing flashes of the best recruit from high school again, as he averages 8.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks through the first month of his rookie campaign. His sensational debut saw him outperform Victor Wembanyama, and he’s since been a crucial part of Dallas’ going 10-5 to start the season.
Lively looks on course to be an All-Rookie selection, provided his contributions continue to vault Dallas up the Western standings. The team looks worse with Lively off the floor, who has a +46 on the season, a very rare feat for a rookie center.
Dereck Lively II Injury Update
During the Mavericks win over the Lakers, Lively got hurt in the third quarter after falling on the floor because of a missed lob. He was ruled out of the game with a lower back contusion.
“The Mavericks say Dereck Lively II (lower back contusion) will not return tonight in Los Angeles after a scary fall on a missed alley-oop against the Lakers. Lively had to be helped off the floor putting no weight on his left leg.”
The Mavericks say Dereck Lively II (lower back contusion) will not return tonight in Los Angeles after a scary fall on a missed alley-oop against the Lakers. Lively had to be helped off the floor putting no weight on his left leg.
More NBA from me: https://t.co/A6ycVmnZ8Y
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 23, 2023
Up until his injury, Lively was having a good showing. He notched two points and 10 rebounds and was a big reason the Mavericks controlled the first three-quarters of the game.
If he misses time, it’s a problem for the Mavericks who will return to their undersized selves from last season. Hopefully, we get good news and Lively’s promising rookie season continues unencumbered.
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