Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Pro Dereck Lively II Posterizes Veteran Center

The Duke basketball one-and-done appears ready to soar as an NBA sophomore.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball center Dereck Lively II
Former Duke basketball center Dereck Lively II / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
In this story:

Looking to build on a promising rookie campaign, in which Dereck Lively II averaged 8.8 points and 6.9 rebounds for a Dallas Mavericks squad that reached the NBA Finals, the 2022-23 Duke basketball center has been consistently efficient and productive in preseason play thus far.

ALSO READ: Three More 2024-25 Blue Devil Schedule Updates

On Monday night, the 20-year-old Lively, who came off the board No. 12 overall at the 2023 NBA Draft following his one-and-done season under then-first-year head coach Jon Scheyer in Durham, posted eight points, seven rebounds, five assists, one steal, and two blocks in the Mavericks' 110-96 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The 7-foot-1, 230-pounder shot 2-for-4 from the field and 4-for-6 at the charity stripe.

And Lively provided the finishing touch to the following highlight score, exhibiting impressive awareness and confidence in rising up to complete the alley-oop flush in traffic and putting Clippers big man Ivica Zubac on a poster in the process:

Dallas is 0-3 in the preseason. But the Mavericks have been without the services of their two backcourt centerpieces in Luka Doncic (left calf contusion) and 2010-11 Duke basketball one-and-done Kyrie Irving (rest) except for Irving's 17 minutes of action in their preseason opener.

Their next preseason outing is in Dallas against the Milwaukee Bucks, including former Blue Devil guard Gary Trent Jr., at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday (TNT).

ALSO READ: Duke One-And-Done Scores First Preseason Points for Bulls

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

Published
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.

Home/Basketball