Dereck Lively Reveals Major Growth Spurt This Off-Season

In 2023-24, Dereck Lively burst onto the scene for the Dallas Mavericks, becoming a key part of their rotation as they made a push to the NBA Finals. While he's averaged just nine points in his career thus far, Lively has also contributed seven boards and 1.5 blocks a night in 23 minutes of action, but with Anthony Davis shifting back to the 4, he should now be starting to get significant minutes. 

At 7-foot-1 with immense athleticism and a great defensive instinct, it's easy to see why the Mavericks see him as a key piece of their future and a building block alongside Cooper Flagg. Now, the Mavericks have gotten some great news, as the 21-year-old has revealed he grew two inches over the summer, now measuring a ridiculous 7-foot-3 heading into the new season.

It's unclear exactly how much this will help Lively's game, but given his defensive presence and his athleticism, he's no doubt going to find a way to use this to his advantage. With the pairing of Anthony Davis up front, this gives the Mavericks one of the best defensive frontcourts in the entire NBA, giving them hope of a deep playoff run in 2025.

On top of this, if Lively can continue to develop his offensive game, he'll be a threat for years to come in the NBA, and learning next to AD, there's a chance that the Mavericks hit the jackpot when they picked him No. 12 overall back in 2023.