Mavericks Dereck Lively II to have season-ending foot surgery

Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Dec 10, 2025

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FORT WORTH, Texas — Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II will undergo right foot surgery and miss the rest for the season.

He is expected to make a full recovery and will be ready for training camp next season, the team said.

The 7-foot-1 Duke product and No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 draft played only seven games this season, averaging 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists. The 21-year-old Philadelphia native has struggled with injuries since being drafted and has played in fewer games each season, going from 55 as a rookie to 36 last season.

For his career, Lively is averaging 8.4 points and 7.0 rebounds and has been one of the NBA’s top lob threats and a strong rim defender.

Lively already had surgery on the foot in July to help fix bone spurs, and he previously missed time with a stress fracture in his right ankle.

The Mavericks have some insurance in Daniel Gafford, whom they signed to a three-year extension over the summer. But he has played only 15 games this season, and Dallas might have to rely more on Dwight Powell or give Moussa Cisse more run in Lively’s absence.

The move comes as the Mavericks (9-16) have started to turn things around, winning four of their past five games, including wins over the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets. No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg has played some of the best basketball of his rookie season over the stretch.

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