Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball in NBA: Dereck Lively II Delivers as Sophomore

The supreme confidence that the 7-footer began to display in a Duke basketball jersey is reaching new heights with the Mavericks.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball center Dereck Lively II
Former Duke basketball center Dereck Lively II / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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Former Duke basketball one-and-done center Dereck Lively II tallied 15 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and one steal across 28 minutes off the bench in the Dallas Mavericks' 120-109 season-opening home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. The defending Western Conference champs' other NBA Blue Devil, veteran starter and eight-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, played only 27 minutes and matched Lively's 15 points.

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Meanwhile, fifth-year Spurs guard Tre Jones, now in a backup role after drawing starting nods in the bulk of his appearances the past two seasons, totaled three points, one board, three assists, one steal, and zero turnovers in his 16 minutes on the floor.

Lively, who shot 6-for-8 from the field in the contest, appeared to pick up right where he left off as a reserve booster down the stretch for the memorable 2023-24 Mavericks.

Dating back to the franchise's statement postseason, the 7-foot-1, 230-pounder has produced a double-double in five of his past 12 outings. Those performances, in which Lively shot a combined 23-for-29 from the field, include the back-to-back variety to help Dallas knock out the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals and two more in the team's 4-1 NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics and Blue Devil centerpiece Jayson Tatum.

In other words, no stage seems too big for the 20-year-old Dereck Lively II, also routinely serving as an emerging shot-blocking extraordinaire.

He, Irving, Luka Doncic, and the rest of the clear-contender Mavericks are now getting ready to face their first road test of the season when they battle the Phoenix Suns (1-0) — featuring three Duke basketball treasures in Tyus Jones, Grayson Allen, and Mason Plumlee — at 10 p.m. ET Saturday.

RELATED: List of Every Active NBA Blue Devil

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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