Dereck Lively II Sees Mavs as 'Dark-Horse' NBA Title Contender

Mavs rookie Dereck Lively II sees the team as being a "dark-horse" NBA title contender based on what he's seen from the squad.

DALLAS — With an active six-game winning streak entering the NBA All-Star break, the Dallas Mavericks hold a 32-23 record and rank seventh in the Western Conference. There is a lot of optimism about what the team can achieve after adding P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford in recent trades. 

While representing the Mavs at NBA All-Star Weekend, Dereck Lively II, who has averaged 9.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks this season, was asked about the team's outlook to be a title contender. He emphasized how he already sees them as a dark-horse contender that other teams do not want to face come playoff time. 

"We're the dark horse that everybody doesn't want to look at, but we're in the back of their minds," Lively said. "We just got to keep this streak going, stay focused, and get each gameplan done when game time comes."

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It isn't easy to bet against Luka Doncic in a playoff setting when he has adequate talent around him to get stops defensively and make plays on offense. The Mavs now have a good combination of skill sets around the Slovenian superstar, between Kyrie Irving in the backcourt, multiple rim-protecting centers, a versatile stretch-five that can switch on defense in Maxi Kleber, and more on-ball defensive talent on the wing capable of attacking closeouts and continuing the advantage. 

Despite only playing one game since the trade deadline due to a six-game injury absence caused by a broken nose, Lively feels chemistry is being built with Washington and Gafford. Once the team returns from the All-Star break, he envisions the group locking in on the game plan and winning games. 

"They fit in perfectly. We’re starting to build chemistry. ... Coming back from this All-Star break, we’re going to be able to get in the gym, get our schemes down, get our gameplans down, and be able to move forward and get some dubs."

With more versatility added defensively with Washington's perimeter defender and becoming a deeper team with a rim protector and rebounder added to the center rotation in Gafford, the Mavs are now a much deeper team. One of the following steps will be to stay healthy and get Dante Exum and Kleber to avoid injury after returning to the lineup. 

As the Mavs continue to play out the remainder of the 2023-24 season, Lively has already solidified himself as a vital presence regarding rim protection and play finishing on offense. He'd like to continue emphasizing expanding his impact offensively as he develops. 

"I want to get better at being able to just be more effective on the offensive end and being able to be more of an impact,” Lively said.

The Mavs return from the All-Star break, facing the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday at American Airlines Center.