Blue Devil Country

NBA Star Heaps Praise on Duke Basketball Pro Dereck Lively II

Duke basketball's Dereck Lively II plays beyond his years as a starter for one of the NBA's most talented teams.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Luka Doncic tallied 50 points and 15 assists to steal the show in the Dallas Mavericks' 128-114 Christmas Day road win over the Phoenix Suns. Afterward, though, the MVP contender was extremely complimentary when talking to the media about the impressive rookie campaign of his teammate, Duke basketball product Dereck Lively II.

RELATED: Duke Great Grayson Allen Ties NBA Christmas Day Record

Lively, a mere 19-year-old who is already the full-time starting center for the Mavericks (18-12), posted 20 points and 10 boards across 32 minutes on the floor. He shot 8-for-9 against the Suns (14-15) — bumping his season field goal percentage to an insane 74.5 — albeit only 4-for-9 at the charity stripe (55.3 percent for the season).

"Obviously, I knew he was going to be great," the 24-year-old Doncic, who surpassed 10,000 career points on Monday night, said about the No. 12 overall pick from the 2023 NBA Draft. "But the way he's performed since the first game, it's been amazing.

"I didn't expect this impact from him because he's been playing like he's in the league for 10 years already. I'm really proud of this guy. He works on his game. He listens to me. So, it's a great combo."

Roughly 18 months removed from being a top-shelf recruit at Westtown School (Pa.), Philadelphia native Dereck Lively II is now averaging 9.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in the league.

The 7-foot-1, 230-pound Duke basketball one-and-done is one of three NBA Blue Devils on the Mavericks' roster, along with veteran guards Seth Curry (scoreless in his six minutes off the bench on Christmas Day) and eight-time All-Star Kyrie Irving (still sidelined with a heel injury).

Dallas, sitting at No. 5 in the Western Conference standings, next hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers (17-13) at 8:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.

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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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