Dallas Mavs' Dereck Lively II Joins Victor Wembanyama on Top 5 NBA Rookie Ladder

The Dallas Mavericks are 6-1 to start the NBA season, and rookie center Dereck Lively II has been a big reason why.

As good as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving's numbers were in limited time together last season, the Dallas Mavericks' lack of size and overall talent on the roster kept the star duo from being able to overcome some unfortunate injuries. This season, however, the Mavs are thriving, getting off to a hot 6-1 start and being the league's best clutch team by a wide margin.

There are many reasons for this big turnaround, including Doncic and Irving having a full offseason and preseason to work together, and the additions of defensive-minded forwards Grant Williams and Derrick Jones Jr. But the biggest reason of all might be rookie center Dereck Lively II, who was the 12th pick in this year's draft and has started six out of seven games for Dallas so far.

According to NBA.com's Kia Rookie Ladder, Lively has played well enough to join San Antonio Spurs No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren, Detroit Pistons' Ausar Thompson and Charlotte Hornets' Brandon Miller in the top five.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II has proven that he could've been selected much higher than No. 12 in the 2023 NBA Draft / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

"Lively is one of the keys to the Mavericks’ 6-1 start and, at 7-foot-1, arguably the biggest," Steve Aschburner wrote. "He has developed on-court chemistry with Irving and Luka Doncic, has attacked the offensive glass and is the rim protector in Dallas’ enhanced defense. Former Mavs center Tyson Chandler, working with the team’s big men recently, had the highest praise for Lively: 'He reminds me of myself.'"

Lively is averaging 9.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 77.8 percent from the field – good for second in the league for payers who qualify with enough field-goal attempts. He is just a few days removed from posting a 15-point, 14-rebound performance in the Mavs' 124-118 over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, and he also outperformed Wembanyama in San Antonio on opening night.

"Just doing the dirty work, man," Lively said when asked about his big double-double in the Mavs' 15-point comeback win. "Cleaning up offensive rebounds, making sure I'm getting defensive rebounds, making sure I'm staying open, making sure I have my hands ready. I'm just thankful for my teammates finding me in those spots, and [now I'm] just trying to get on to the next one."

If Lively can continue to his upward trajectory throughout the course of this season, the Mavs will keep winning games at a high rate, and they might mess around and enter the title-contender conversation as well.