Former Duke basketball center Dereck Lively II (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
Duke Basketball One-And-Done Dereck Lively II Earns First NBA Start
Many folks figured 2022-23 Duke basketball big man Dereck Lively II, who impressed the Dallas Mavericks staff throughout training camp and the preseason after going No. 12 overall at this summer's NBA Draft, would be a starter in Wednesday night's season-opening road win over the San Antonio Spurs.
He wasn't. Veteran center Maxi Kleber got the nod.
But Lively received more minutes than Kleber, posting a 16-10 double-double in his first game as a pro.
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Now, as of Friday night's 125-120 home win over the Brooklyn Nets, the 19-year-old Lively looks like the squad's full-time starting center moving forward.
Although his production wasn't quite as eye-popping in his second NBA outing, tallying nine points, two rebounds, and one block in 17 minutes on the floor, it was more than the zero points Dallas got from Kleber in his 26 minutes off the bench. Furthermore, Lively was efficient again, shooting 4-for-4 from the field and 1-for-2 at the line.
Through two games in his NBA career, Dereck Lively II is averaging 12.5 points. 6.0 points, 1.0 blocks, and 0.5 steals in 24.0 minutes per game while shooting 91.7 percent from the field.
And his team, including fellow Duke basketball products Seth Curry (two points in nine minutes off the bench against the Nets) and full-time Mavericks starter Kyrie Irving (17 points, seven boards, and six dimes in 34 minutes on Friday night), is 2-0.
A positive start, indeed.
The Mavericks are now gearing up to hit the road for a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.