Kendrick Perkins Praises Mavs Center as 'Best Defensive Big'

ESPN's Kendrick Perkins showed a lot of love for the rising star

Oct 24, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks have one of the best young centers in the NBA in Dereck Lively II, who got off to a hot start this season with his first career 15/10/5 game against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Wemby really struggled to operate against the Mavs' defensive anchor and was forced to take a lot of outside shots, limiting his overall effectiveness.

Because of that incredible showing against the former number one overall pick, ESPN's Kendrick Perkins said Lively "might be the best defensive big" in the NBA currently on "NBA Countdown."

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"That damn Dereck Lively," Perkins started, "a monster night, double-double with six assists off the bench, and listen, it is so huge and so impactful when you have an athletic big that can be a lob threat and dunkers spot player. Defensively, he might be the best defensive big in the game. The way that he’s able to anchor that defense, cover pick-and-rolls, he had Victor Wembanyama in hell yesterday the way that he was guarding him. I’m telling you, that young man Dereck Lively is a needle mover."

Lively didn't have as big of a performance against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, but his role in last season's playoffs was a big reason the Mavericks were able to make a run to the NBA Finals. He was voted All-Rookie Second Team last season and gives Dallas one of the best center rotations in the NBA, alongside Daniel Gafford.

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