Former Duke Basketball Center off to Lively Start for Mavericks

Duke basketball product Dereck Lively II could go down as the steal of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Former Duke basketball center Dereck Lively II (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)

In only nine games as an NBA player, 2022-23 Duke basketball center Dereck Lively II has seemingly locked up a starting job for one of the league's top title contenders in the Dallas Mavericks (8-2). He's averaging 8.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks across 24.4 minutes per game, and the 19-year-old late lottery pick sits fifth on the Kia Rookie Ladder.

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The only two games the 7-foot-1 rim-protector and glass-crasher wasn't in the starting five came in the season opener (16 points and 10 rebounds off the bench) and in the Mavericks' road loss to the Toronto Raptors last week (sat out with an illness).

On Friday night, Lively fouled out for the first time as a pro, tallying only six points and four boards in his 26 minutes on the floor. Nevertheless, according to MavsMuse, it was enough for the Philadelphia native to become the first player since 1960 to grab at least 55 rebounds and shoot 70 percent or better from the field across their first eight NBA games.

Since 1960, there has only been 1 NBA player record 55+ rebounds on 70% shooting in their first 8 games.

That player is Dereck Lively. pic.twitter.com/8hu8r7f1Ta

— MavsMuse (@MavsMuse) November 12, 2023

Two days later, the Mavericks' other starter from Duke, eight-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, stole the show with 35 points and a 7-for-10 clip from deep in a 136-124 road win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

But Lively did his part, posting 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field and 2-for-4 from the charity stripe. He also added two rebounds, one steal, and two blocks.

Before the draft, according to scouts, one of Dereck Lively's biggest weaknesses was his limited offensive game outside of dunks/putbacks

If you had told these scouts that he would be doing this offensively in the first ten games of his NBA career, they would not have believed… pic.twitter.com/kPuuJAdykc

— Coopz (@Coopz___) November 14, 2023

Dereck Lively II, Kyrie Irving, and the Mavericks' third NBA Blue Devil, reserve guard Seth Curry, face the Pelicans again in New Orleans at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. The Pelicans feature two Duke talents: Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.